Supreme Court Rules DNA Tests in 18-Year-Old Maintenance Case Must Balance Child's Rights and Father's Privacy, Requires Eminent Need

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a child’s right to know their biological father through DNA testing must be balanced against the potential father's right to privacy. The Court stated that DNA tests should only be ordered when there is an 'eminent need' and other means of establishing paternity have failed. This decision was made in the context of an 18-year-old maintenance case, where the Court emphasized that a DNA test is not a legal right. The ruling also highlighted that extramarital affairs do not negate the legitimacy of the marital relationship, and it reinforced the principle that nobody is above the law in matrimonial disputes.