Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) After an investigation if the Ombudsman is satisfied that, - (a) the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or is not made in good faith; or (b) there is no sufficient ground to initiate proceedings; or (c) other remedies are available to the complainant and it would be more beneficial for the complainant to avail of such remedies in view of the circumstances of the case, it may dispose of the complaint as rejected after recording its findings stating the reason therefor, and communicate the same to the complainant (2) If, the Ombudsman is of opinion that there is a prima facie case against the person or the Local Self Government Institution complained of it shall record its findings to this effect and send notices of the proposed enquiry to the complainant and to the opposite party. (3) The Ombudsman shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, have power to regulate its procedures by fixing the time and place of sitting. [(4) x x x x] [(5) x x x x] (6) In any proceedings before the Ombudsman, no legal practitioner will be permitted to represent any person, unless the Ombudsman permits, by an order, a person to be represented by a legal practitioner for reasons to be recorded. Sub-sections (4) & (5) omitted by Act 12 of 2001, w.e.f. 14/09/2001. The omitted sub-sections read as under: "(4) For the speedy and efficient transaction of business, the chairman of the Ombudsman, may establish two or more benches of the Ombudsman, each consisting of not less than two of its members, among whom one shall be nominated as the Presiding Officer of such bench. (5) A bench so constituted shall, decide the cases by holding its sitting at various district head quarters at regular intervals as fixed by the chairman of the Ombudsman and such bench shall exercise all or any of the powers of the Ombudsman."