India, May 12 -- The state social justice department is facing flak for checking more than 50 of its officials into a private resort and spa in Lonavala for a brainstorming session on government welfare schemes - even as state guidelines say such training programmes should be conducted at government-run training centres, not luxury getaways. The estimated price tag of this summer interlude: Rs.20 lakh.

Given the alleged breach of protocol - not to mention the glaring irony - social activists are demanding an administrative-financial audit of the government institution that organised the programme. They also want action to be taken against the officials for flouting government norms.

However, social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat has an...