Who can use the office of Ombudsman?

• A. Any citizen can make a complaint, but only if prima facie case exists.
• B. Only government employees.
• C. Only persons with formal legal representation.
• D. Only residents of the city where the ombudsman is located.

Answer: (A)

The office of the Ombudsman is designed to be accessible to the public, allowing any citizen to raise concerns about maladministration by public authorities. A key point is that there’s usually an initial screening: the complaint must show some prima facie evidence of maladministration before the office will investigate. This ensures the office is available to all who have a legitimate grievance, but not overwhelmed by unfounded claims.

So, the correct idea is that any citizen can make a complaint, but only if there’s prima facie evidence to support it. The other options aren’t accurate because the ombudsman isn’t limited to government employees, isn’t restricted to those with formal legal representation, and isn’t strictly limited to residents of the city where it’s located.