SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir government has constituted an apex –level selection panel for appointment of ombudsman at district level in the newly carved out Union Territory.
The panel headed by Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education has been empowered to recommend the selection of ombudsman in each district.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the committee also comprising a representative of Union Ministry of Rural Development, secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and a civil society activist to be nominated by Union Ministry of Rural Development has also empowered to recommend termination of ombudsman in case his/ her performance is unsatisfactory.
According to its terms and conditions, the quorum of the panel should be considered fulfilled only if either the representative of the Ministry of Rural Development or the representative of civil society is present in the meeting.
The ombudsman is are empowered to receive complaints related to MGNREGA, consider such complaints and facilitate their disposal. In certain cases, the ombudsmen can issue direction for conducting spot investigation and to lodge FIRs against the erring parties.
He/she can initiate proceedings suo motu in the event of any circumstance arising within his jurisdiction that may cause any grievance and engage experts for facilitating the disposal of the complaint, direct redressal, disciplinary and punitive actions