Instilling Public Confidence in Administration: The Need for an Ombudsman-like Institution in India

Abstract

The continuing increase in the instances of maladministration undermines the public faith in bureaucracy underscoring the need for an ombudsman like institution in India. The Lokpal/Lokayukta Act has been sought to be promulgated since the 1970's and till today efforts for the same have been all in vain, showing the lack of political will to institutionalize the ombudsman in India. Even though States such as Orissa, Kerala and others have enacted their own State Acts constituting the ombudsman, they haven't achieved much success. An understanding of the importance of an ombudsman-like institution and the promulgation of a Central Act is the required step forward. The functioning of administration has also undergone a paradigm change. Focus has shifted from secrecy to transparency, from working in isolation to working with the people, from arbitrariness to accountability for actions. Clearly the time has come to herald change through institutionalizing the ombudsman. This paper gives a brief overview of the institution of the ombudsman highlighting its merits, illustrates the differences between the institution of ombudsman and Courts and that of the Central Vigilance Commission bringing forth the supplemental role played by the same and suggests measures that need to be taken to supplement the success of ombudsman. Finally, the conclusion is presented.