A former High Court judge sits alone as Ombudsman over Kerala's local governments

Background

Kerala's local governments discharge developmental functions, and a separate state-level forum exists to check malpractices in how they do it: the Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions.
The institution started functioning in the year 2000 as a 7 member body with a retired Judge of the High Court as its Chairman.
It was made a single member body through an amendment of the Panchayath Raj Act in the year 2001.
Under the present law, only a former judge of High Court can be appointed as Ombudsman.
It is a quasi judicial body functioning at the state level with its headquarters in the State capital.
The Ombudsman can conduct investigations and enquiries into instances of mal administration, corruption, favouritism, nepotism, lack of integrity, excessive action, inaction and abuse of position.
Its office is in the Saphalyam Complex, Trida Building, University P.O., Thiruvananthapuram.