Ombudsman For Local Governments in Kerala - A Brief History

A Brief History

The Institution started functioning in the year 2000 as a 7 member body with a Retd. Judge of the High Court as its Chairman. The successor government changed the constitution and made it a single member body through an amendment of the Panchayath Raj Act in the year 2001. During the preceding 3 years the office was held by Mr. Justice T.K. Chandrasekhar Das and before that by Mr. Justice K.P. Radhakrishna Menon. The Chairman of the 7 member body which was functional in the year 2000 was Mr. Justice P.A. Mohamed. All of them have rendered exemplary service to the institution. With effect from 17-3-2008 the office of Ombudsman is held by Mr. Justice M.R. Hariharan Nair, a former Judge of the High Court of Kerala and his vibrancy is evident from the newspaper reports on his actions (See the inks below). His appointment was for a term of 3 years which ended on 16-3-2011.

Justice M N Krishnan, who served as the High Court Judge from 28 October 2004 to 10 February 2011, is expected to join the position of Ombudsman for Local Governments in Kerala by 20 April 2011.