Court refuses relief to Tiwari in paternity suit

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to give relief to Congress leader ND Tiwari who had approached the court against a Delhi High Court verdict that held it had the jurisdiction to hear a paternity suit seeking DNA test of the leader.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to give relief to Congress leader ND Tiwari who had approached the court against a Delhi High Court verdict that held it had the jurisdiction to hear a paternity suit seeking DNA test of the leader.

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The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, made it clear that the issues would be framed without being influenced by the observations made by the HC’s division bench.
It also said that in case an application for in-camera hearing is moved before the HC, the latter might consider it.

Rohit Shekhar, who claims to be Tiwari’s biological son, had filed the petition.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Tiwari opposed Shekhar’s plea to subject 84-year-old Tiwari to a DNA test and alleged the suit was filed to malign and tarnish the image of the former Andhra Pradesh governor.

Shekhar’s counsel PS Patwaria, however, rebutted Salve and said his client’s plea was justified and that the DNA test would settle the contentious issue regarding his paternity.

Tiwari had to resign as the Andhra governor after he was purportedly shown in a compromising position with three women in a sting operation by a TV channel in December last year.