| Even after 2 years of elections, Govt fails to appoint Ombudsman for Local Bodies | | BJP’s slogan of transparency proves damp squib | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 18: It has been around two years since the elections of two Local Bodies including Municipal Corporations, Panchayats were held across Jammu and Kashmir but the much talked about appointments of ombudsman for both local bodies have yet to see the light of the day.
Sources told Early Times that Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) had vociferously advocated the appointments of ombudsman to bring about accountability, transparency, curb on irregularities and mal functioning of local bodies but the undue delay on their appointments have been exposing their tall claims of BJP.
“The main objective of appointment of ombudsman was to redress grievances of thousands of complaints received from the public in connection with mal functioning of the departments but the process on the part of government has not been given due attention to make it reality on the ground,” they added.
Although the amendments in Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Ombudsman Act, 2010 were carried out in December, 2018 in order to felicitate the appointment of Ombudsman during the tenure of former Governor SP Malik but till date process has not been taken forward due to unknown reasons, they said further adding even the Selection Committee constituted during Governor’s rule failed to make its recommendation so far to make important institution functional effectively.
They further said that even for the appointment of ombudsman, the eligible criteria, besides the Judge of High Court, the provision of appointment of a person who has held the post of Commissioner/Secretary to the Government was also made but due to casual approach of the Housing and Urban Development Department and a Selection Committee for their failure to project their recommendation.
As per amended Act, the ombudsman has been given more powers including investigation of complaints, inquiries, transferring of cases in tribunal to ombudsman, initiation of prosecution. Moreover, the ombudsman was given power to recommend action against erring officials, penalty on false complaint or prison, they added. |
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