The Ombudsman And Administrative Accountability: A Comparative Study Of Efficacy In The US, UK, And India
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 2
- 1 min read
Harsh Sinha, ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad
Victor Packiam Samuel, ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the role of the Ombudsman in promoting administrative accountability in the US, UK, and India. It highlights the Ombudsman as an essential instrument for combating abuses of power, bad governance, and maladministration while fostering transparency, equality, and trust between the people and the government.
The Ombudsman in the UK has a great deal of independence and credibility, despite the fact that its enforcement powers are still limited. It places a strong focus on procedural justice and public accessibility. A number of specialized agencies in the US handle individual complaints in a decentralized structure that is similar to ombudsman institutions but sometimes lacks uniformity. India's Ombudsman system, which is represented by the Lokpal and Lokayuktas, fights corruption and administrative inefficiency in spite of challenges such political interference, delays, and unequal execution.
The comparative analysis highlights that the Ombudsman's effectiveness depends on a number of factors, including money, political will, institutional independence, and public awareness. The UK demonstrates procedural robustness, the US benefits from specialization and decentralization, and India emphasizes the importance of political commitment and civil society involvement.
The study concludes that ombudsman institutions must be adjusted to local political and administrative contexts, finding a balance between independence, accessibility, and enforcement authority, in order to create responsive and transparent administration.
