Paternity Suspicion: Current Scenario in India

DNA testing has now become a norm to adjudicate in the disputes in criminal and civil cases in various courts across India. It was observed that in majority of the medico-legal cases directed by Honourable Courts to the DNA Fingerprinting Laboratories are related to the establishment of paternity by DNA profiling. The present study was carried out with the aim to determine the nonpaternity rate in India and its impact on the Indian population. It was interesting to note; that in 92% of such cases, paternity results by DNA fingerprinting technology went in favour of the mother. The study also concluded that a larger percentage of male petitioners sought to ascertain his non-parentage of the child born from wedlock was significantly higher, when compared to the number of women petitioners. Most significantly, these cases were registered either to get divorce, attest adultery of life partner or to avoid compensation for the child after divorce. Indian laws give the male partner right to DNA profiling to establish the identity of his child; but on the other side, such cases carry a major social stigma. The surreptitious, but with a mala-fide intentfiled paternity cases; are generally attributed to severe psychological trauma for the child and mother. Even though, it may be a basic requirement for one parent to establish the identity of her/his progeny; the results may lead to a sense of insecurity, lack of trust and psychological impairment in the child.