Censured for cost and time overruns in its weapons programmes, the Defence Research and Development Organisation has now been pulled up by the Comptroller and Auditor General for undertaking unauthorised works in its new showpiece office in Lutyens Delhi.

The bone of contention is the 450-seat convention centre built in the new DRDO building behind South Block at an additional cost of Rs 6.40 crore which has been taken objection to by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

"Construction of convention center is not authorised in the approved scales of accommodation applicable to DRDO," the CAG said in its latest report tabled in Parliament.

The sanction issued by the director general, research and development was therefore not in order, the report said.

It said that the DRDO was already in possession of a 515-seat convention centre at the Metcalfe House about 15km from DRDO headquarters, so the construction of the second centre was "uncalled for."

The CAG brushed aside pleas by the DRDO that there was no convention centre or auditorium available near the Central Secretariat except Vigyan Bhawan and the convention centre was for common use along with the Navy, Army and the Air Force.

"These arguments are not acceptable as sanction of works was beyond the delegated power of Director General and thus irregular," it said.

It said government departments are expected to exercise economy in planning and executing works by restricting the scope of the work strictly according to authorised scales.