Opposition blames government for security failure

"Terrorists come and attack at the busiest gate of the high court, and Delhi Police and government have no information. It is regrettable," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

"It is a matter of great pain and agony that a blast has happened in front of the Delhi High Cour, for the second time within four months," he said.

The Left parties were in agreement and said it was a failure of the home ministry and Delhi Police.

"I find this a failure of the home ministry," Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said.

"We need to probe how such a thing could happen again and again. The government should probe whether it was a failure of intelligence or failure of policy," he said.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta called it a failure of Delhi Police. "Delhi Police is responsible for being negligent."

The powerful blast, which took place around 10.30 a.m. the peak rush hour, injured at least 45 people, some of them critically.

The explosion took place outside Gate No 5 of the high court complex. The gate is usually crowded on weekdays with a long queue of visitors waiting to get inside.