Latest news with #TamilNaduLocalBodiesOmbudsmanAct
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Display Ombudsman availability in all local bodies prominently: HC
Madurai: Madras high court recently directed the secretary of the municipal administration and water supply department to ensure that the availability of the Ombudsman is exhibited explicitly in all the offices of the local bodies, in a prominent manner. Justice B Pugalendhi noted that the Ombudsman is the authority for conducting inquiries regarding charges of corruption, maladministration, or irregularities in the discharge of administrative functions by public servants working in the local bodies, as per the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act. "The Act was enacted with the intention of ensuring transparency in the affairs of the local bodies. The truth or otherwise of the complaints would emerge only upon the conclusion of the inquiry. The Act itself provides a penalty for vexatious complaints. The Act is not only against the officers/officials of the local bodies but also against the elected members. Therefore, the avenue of the Ombudsman must be exhibited in all the offices of the local bodies, explicitly, enabling the public to avail themselves of the benefits available under the Act, by setting the law in motion," the judge observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The court was hearing the petition filed by K Paunraj, who was then commissioner of Puliyangudi municipality in Tenkasi district. The petitioner challenged the interim order passed by the Ombudsman referring the complaints against him to the DVAC for a probe. Paunraj's counsel submitted that the petitioner, as a commissioner, made certain efforts to collect property tax from the taxpayers. An association had huge tax arrears. In order to evade tax, the association and a few other individuals made complaints before the Ombudsman. Without conducting a proper inquiry, the Ombudsman passed an interim order recommending the DVAC probe. However, the counsel for the individuals submitted that the petitioner committed several irregularities, indulged in corrupt practices, and acquired several disproportionate assets. The counsel further submitted that the petitioner obtained a community certificate fraudulently as if he belonged to the scheduled caste community and got public employment. Justice Pugalendhi observed that there is a pending cases against the petitioner for misappropriation of funds. Certain major allegations have been made against the petitioner, such as corruption, amassing wealth, obtaining a community certificate fraudulently as if he belonged to the scheduled caste community, and getting public employment. The provisions of the Act enable the Ombudsman to utilise the services of any officer or investigation agency of the govt or any other state agency for the purpose of conducting the inquiry under this Act. Therefore, the court cannot find fault with the order passed by the Ombudsman, the judge observed and dismissed the petition. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC orders display of Ombudsman details in local bodies
The complainants had alleged that the petitioner had committed several financial irregularities and amassed wealth disproportionate to his sources of income. Paunraj's counsel, however, claimed that the association owed a huge amount in tax arrears and made the above complaint to intimidate him from taking any further action towards its recovery. The judge observed that the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act was enacted in 2014 with an intention to address the complaints of corruption, maladministration, etc made against the elected members, officers and employees of the local bodies in the state. Section 6(4) of the Act empowers the ombudsman to avail the services of any officer or investigation agency of the government for the purpose of conducting inquiry under the Act. Hence, the order of the ombudsman does not warrant interference, he held. He also noted that a criminal case was registered against Paunraj by the district crime branch police (DCB), Coimbatore, in 2021, for misappropriating public funds to the tune of Rs 15.62 crore during his stint as Valparai municipality commissioner. The case was later transferred to the DVAC but no final report has been filed in the case despite a specific direction from the court in 2022, the judge noted, and directed the DVAC director to ensure that the final report is filed expeditiously.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Exhibit availability of ombudsman at offices of local bodies in prominent manner, says the Madurai Bench
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Secretary to the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply to ensure that the availability of ombudsman is exhibited prominently at all offices of local bodies. Justice B. Pugalendhi observed that the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act was enacted in 2014 to address complaints against the elected members of the local bodies, and also officers and employees. The aim was to ensure transparency in the functioning of the local bodies. The ombudsman is the authority for conducting inquiries into the charges of corruption, irregularities, or maladministration against public servants of local bodies under Section 2(10) of the Act. If any public servant is involved in corruption, favouritism, nepotism, or abused his/her position for gain, the ombudsman shall entertain the complaint and decide on it as provided under the Act. The Act also provides a penalty for vexatious complaints. The availability of ombudsman must be displayed prominently at all the offices of local bodies to enable members of the public avail themselves of the benefits under the Act, the court observed. The court was hearing a petition filed by K. Paunraj, the then Commissioner of the Puliyangudi Municipality. He was facing complaints before the ombudsman. He challenged an order passed by the ombudsman referring the complaints to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Major allegations were made against the petitioner, including corruption, amassing of wealth, obtaining of community certificate fraudulently for getting public employment. The court pointed out that Section 6(4) of the Act enables the ombudsman to utilise the services of any officer or an investigating agency of the government or any other agency for conducting inquiries. It said it could not find fault with the order passed by the ombudsman. It pointed out that a case was registered against the petitioner by the District Crime Branch, Coimbatore, on the charge of misappropriation of public funds when he was the Commissioner of the Valparai Municipality. Yet another case was registered by the DVAC, Tenkasi, against him for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to the known sources of his income. The court dismissed the petition.
