OMBUDSMAN : LOK PAL, LOK AYUKTA
OMBUDSMAN ENGLISH VERSION The word Ombudsman is borrowed from the Swedish words 'Umbuds man', meaning 'Representative'. In general ombudsman refers to a state official appointed to provide a check on Government activity in the interests of the citizen and to oversee the investigation of complaints of improper Government activity against the citizen. It examines complaints from the outside of the offending state institution, thus avoiding the conflicts of interest inherent in self policing. However, the Ombudsman system relies on the selection of appropriate personnel and the degree of cooperation offered by the apparatus of administration. The institution of ombudsman is originated in the Scandinavian countries, while Sweden introduced for the first time in its present form in 1809. Followed by Finland in 1919, Denmark in 1953, Norway in 1962 and England in 1967 respectively. The main thrust of this institution is 'to give relief when the administrative ...