The Supreme Court on Monday held that directing DNA testing cannot become a routine investigative measure and must be exercised only in exceptional cases where justice demands such intrusion. The court emphasised that DNA testing, by its very nature, constitutes a deep invasion of privacy and bodily autonomy, requiring adherence to constitutional safeguards.

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi observed that courts must exercise “utmost circumspection” while ordering DNA tests and ensure that the sanctity of family relationships and the legitimacy of children born within wedlock are not jeopardised by speculative or exploratory investigations.

“DNA testing cannot be ordered as a matter of course and must be subject to stringent safeguards to protect the dignity of

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