The meaning of the word Ombudsman is an officer, usually appointed by the government or by parliament, but with a significant degree of independence, who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or  violation of rights. Use of the term in modern times began in Sweden.

         With a mission to realise the Gandhian concept of “Grama Swaraj” and to act as a system ensuring the proper functioning of the 3 tier local bodies and Local Self Government Institutions Government of Kerala constituted the Ombudsman with effect from 29-5-2000 (S.R.O. No.454/2000 dated 29-5-2000) as per section 271 G of Kerala Panchayat Raj Act (13 of 1994) for conducting investigations and enquiries in respect of any action involving corruption or maladministration or irregularities in the discharge of administrative functions by Local Self Government Institutions or by an employee or an officer working under the Local Self Government Institutions or by an employee or an officer working in any office or institution transferred to such Local Self Government Institutions or by elected member of the Local Self Government Institution including its President or Chairperson and for the disposal of such complaints in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

         Originally the State level authority was having seven members. The Chairman was the person who was holding the post of a High Court Judge and the other six members were drawn from the Judicial, Administrative Sections as well as from eminent social activists. The following were appointed as Chairman and members of Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions in Kerala as per G.O.(P) No. 155/2000/LSGD dated 29.05.2000 issued under subsection(2) of Section 271 (G) of Kerala Panchayath Raj Act 1994;

Chairman and Members

         Thereafter the Government, by Act 12 of 2001 dissolved the 7 member authority   and the single Ombudsman  system  came  into  existence  as  per notification S.R.O. No.1105/2001 dated 11-12-2001 by appointing a person who has held the post of a Judge of the High Court.

Names of former single member Ombudsmen and their tenure

Justice K.P. Radhakrishna Menon    (26.12.2001 – 25.12.2004)

Justice T.K. Chandrasekhara Das    (01.02.2005 – 31.01.2008)

Justice M.R. Hariharan Nair            (17.03.2008 – 16.03.2011)

Justice M.N. Krishnan                    (23.04.2011 – 22.04.2014)

Justice M.L. Joseph Francis            (06.08.2014 - 05.08.2017)

                  The present Ombudsman Justice Shri.K.K. Denesan entered upon his office on 22.12.2017. HIs tenure as Ombudsman expires on 21.12.2020.