This is a high powered quasi judicial body functioning at the State level with its Head Quarters in the State Capital. Possibly no other State in India has such an institution to oversee the functioning of Local Self Government Institutions.

Under the present law only a former judge of  High Court can be appointed as Ombudsman.He can conduct investigations and enquiries into instances of mal administration, corruption, favouritism, nepotism, lack of integrity, excessive action, inaction, abuse of position, etc. On the part of officials and elected representatives of all Local Bodies (Corporations, Municipalities, and Panchayaths of all three levels).He can even register cases suo moto if instances of the above kind come to his notice. His sittings can be anywhere in the State and at his discretion.He is not fully bound by the rigid provisions of the Indian Evidence Act and the Procedure Codes. Advocates can appear in the cases before the Ombudsman only if specifically permitted to do so for stated reasons. These provisions make the functioning of the Institution very flexible and enables conduct of cases fast and inexpensive. At present,sittings of Ombudsman are held at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode.Occasionally sittings are also held at other places like Kannoor,Palakkad, etc.