The Delhi High Court on Wednesday approved the use of coercive methods, if required, to ensure the presence of Congress leader N.D. Tiwari on its premises to take his blood sample for a DNA test to decide on the petition of Rohit Shekhar, who claims he is the biological son of the octogenarian leader.
Justice Reva Khetrapal dismissed Mr. Tiwari's plea seeking time on the ground that a petition had been filed in the Supreme Court against the High Court's ultimatum to him — whether he wants to give a blood sample voluntarily or wants the court to order use of force for that.
The judge said the pendency of the petition in the apex court would not come in the way of the High Court order as a Single Bench and a Division Bench of this court and finally the highest court of the land had directed him to give a blood sample.
Justice Khetrapal asked the Joint Registrar to hear the matter on May 21 to decide the date and manner in which the blood sample was to be taken. The Joint Registrar was asked to take the assistance of the police to ensure the presence of Mr. Tiwari within one week of receipt of test kits from the Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics.
Ultimatum
On Monday, the court gave the ultimatum to Mr. Tiwari on a fresh application by Mr. Shekhar. He had sought a direction to Mr. Tiwari to give his blood sample or appoint a court commissioner to take the same if the Congress leader failed to comply with the court order.
In 2008, Mr. Shekhar filed a suit seeking a direction to declare Mr. Tiwari his biological father.
