New Delhi, Aug 31 - The Delhi High Court Monday imposed a fine on an American national for intending to adopt a child with the intention of using him as a domestic help.

Justice V.B.Gupta imposed a fine of Rs.20,000 on Craig Allen Coates, a resident of the US, for abusing the process of law and filing a wrong petition challenging the lower court's order of not allowing him to adopt a child.

Coates, who was married in 1984, has two sons and one daughter of his own but wanted to adopt another boy child from India to extend his family.

The trial court had last year dismissed his plea, as the reason why he wanted to extend their family was not clear. Coates had then challenged the judgement in the high court.

'The appellants are having three children.