Panchayat Raj Ombudsman

The Karnataka government will shortly appoint a state-level ombudsman for the Panchayat Raj institutions to prevent misuse of administrative powers and to ensure the effective implementation of development programmes.

Announcing this at a press meet here, rural development and panchayat raj minister C M Udasi said that an ordinance appointing an ombudsman will be promulgated within a month.

"A retired high court judge or retired chief secretary will be appointed the ombudsman. The person will receive all grievances relating to the Panchayat Raj institutions," he added.

The ombudsman will be empowered to conduct audit of all the three-tier panchayat system "" district, taluk and village panchayats. "The ombudsman will also examine financial irregularities and make suitable recommendations to the government," the minister added.

The deputy commissioners at the district level will also be recognised as the ombudsman for district and taluk panchayats.