HC refuses stay, Tiwari to take DNA test today

The proceedings relating to a DNA test to be undergone by veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari facing an embarrassing paternity suit will commence at the Delhi high court on Tuesday.

The proceedings relating to a DNA test to be undergone by veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari facing an embarrassing paternity suit will commence at the Delhi high court on Tuesday.

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Tiwari, also the former Andhra Pradesh governor, suffered a major setback when a two-judge bench of the court on Monday refused to stay a single judge order of December 23, 2010, directing him to undergo a DNA test.

This meant the former chief minister will have to appear before the court on Tuesday to ascertain the modalities for undergoing the test.

Rohit Shekhar (31), a practicing lawyer at the Delhi high court, has claimed he is Tiwari's son from an affair the leader had with his mother, Congress activist Ujjwala Sharma. Rohit had moved court to get Tiwari to agree to a paternity test two years ago.

Rejecting Tiwari's contention that he can't be forced to do a DNA test, the single judge said a child has a right to know his father…"law has to lean in favour of an innocent child, save him from the stigma of being a bastard", said the judge S Ravindra Bhat.

It also took into consideration the fact that Shekhar's foster father BP Sharma had voluntarily undergone a DNA test.