The term Ombudsman is of Swedish origin and the first Ombudsman institution was established in Sweden in the year 1809. Ombudsman is also known as Ombuds or public advocate. It is an official, usually appointed by the parliament with significant degree of independence and is entrusted to represent the interest of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration.
Ombudsman in India is known as “Lokpal” which means the “Caretaker of people”. It is basically an anti corruption body which represents public interest. Ombudsman which is an independent, impartial body discharges its function of safeguarding the interest of public by investigating the complaints and attempting to resolve dispute and it does so by the process recommendation and mediation.
The Lokpal bill in India was first passed in the year 1969 but it was tabled thereafter again in several years like 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008 an attempt was made to pass the bill and it was passed but again tabled and being aggrieved by the same a campaign called “India against Corruption” was started headed by Anna Hazare supporting the new version of Lokpal Bill known as “Jan Lokpal Bill” which was submitted in the year 2011 and after much debates, hunger strike and nationwide demands finally it was passed in the year 2013 and it is commonly known as Lokpal Act which created Lokapal and Lokayukth in India.
- Lokpal is the central governing body having jurisdiction over all members of parliament, central Government including Prime Minister in matter of corruption. The scope of lokpal is National level and its responsibility is to check corruption in Central Government. The members of lokpal includes Chairperson and maximum of 8 members out of which 50% should be Judicial Magistrate and other 50% should be people from ST/SC/OBC/Minorities and women.
- Lokayukth is a state level governing body having jurisdiction over State Government employees including Chief Minister in the case of corruption. Its scope is limited to the geographical boundary of a state and its responsibility is to check corruption in State Government. Each state dictates its lokayukth setup but there is proposal to implement lokayukth uniformly across Indian States and under the proposal the lokayukth include 3 members. It is headed either by Judge of Supreme Court or Chief Justice of High Court along with a State Vigilance Commissioner and a jurist or an eminent administrator as other member
