New Delhi, Aug 10 - The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a plea asking for DNA profiling of politicians to know their 'criminality' before allowing them to contest elections.

Tamil Nadu resident Devaji S. Goplalingle had approached the apex court with the plea, apparently under the impression that the DNA profiling would disclose the possible criminal antecedents of politicians, on the basis of which they could be prevented from running elections.

'But why do you want to know the paternity of politicians? The DNA profiling determines only the paternity, not the criminality,' remarked an apex court bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice B.S. Chauhan. The plea was dismissed.

The petitioner, appearing in person, also pleaded for disenfranchising both the politicians and the government servants.

But the bench dismissed the petition.