HC asks DMRC to reveal Zamrudpur pillar design

The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to disclose - under the Right to Information Act - the design of the Zamrudpur Metro pillar to an architect. The pillar had collapsed two years ago and killed six people.

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to disclose - under the Right to Information Act - the design of the Zamrudpur Metro pillar to an architect. The pillar had collapsed two years ago and killed six people.

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A two-judge bench issued the order while dismissing DMRC appeal against an order of a single judge bench, which upheld a Central
Information Commission order of March 18, 2010, asking DMRC to reveal the design to Sudhir Vohra.

Monday's order meant that the corporation lost three rounds of court battle to the architect.

Significantly, DMRC had roped in attorney general GE Vahanvati to represent them in court, while Vohra had argued the case himself.

"We are unable to accept the argument of DMRC that disclosure may affect the security, strategic, scientific and economic interests of the state," a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said.

The court also rejected DMRC's argument that supply of the information would "impair the process of investigation and prosecution of offenders."

The single judge bench had said the details of the design were already on the internet and therefore, in the public domain. It had questioned how, in these circumstances, the disclosure of such design can affect DMRC interests.

In the RTI plea, Vohra had sought all details of the design and structure for academic purposes and to study and analyse the failed design.