The Office of the Ombudsman will commemorate its 56th anniversary on 19 November 2026 under the theme “Honouring Our Legacy – Inspiring the Future: 56 Years of Promoting Fairness, Accountability and Good Governance in the Public Sector”. The ceremony will be held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Réduit, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Mr Dharam Gokhool, as Chief Guest.

The Office will also welcome the participation of high dignitaries, senior public officials, chairpersons of local human rights institutions, including Ombudspersons, as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society.

The anniversary marks more than five decades of service to the citizens of Mauritius and Rodrigues, providing them with an independent avenue to seek redress against administrative injustice. It also highlights the Office's contribution to promoting transparency, accountability and fairness in public administration.

For the Ombudsman, Mr Raj Kishore Ramsaha, the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the institution's achievements and renew its commitment to protecting citizens' rights.

“Over the past 56 years, the Office has remained committed to ensuring that citizens have a voice when they believe they have been treated unfairly by public administration. Our role is to examine complaints independently and impartially, identify instances of maladministration and make recommendations aimed at correcting administrative shortcomings. Every citizen deserves to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect,” he emphasised.

The commemoration will also feature several institutional initiatives, including the launch of a National Public Awareness Campaign, the unveiling of the Office's official logo and the launch of a Trilingual Service Guide. An Electronic Complaint Management System (E-CMS), designed to modernise complaint management and improve service delivery, will also be presented. An institutional video retracing 56 years of service will be screened, while partners and stakeholders who contributed to these initiatives will be recognised.

A series of activities will also take place from 14 to 22 November, bringing together Ombudsmen, Public Protectors and Mediators from several countries. The programme will include courtesy visits, a workshop on safeguarding and promoting child rights, discussions with Members of Parliament on human rights and good governance, and meetings of the International Ombudsman Institute's African Working Group. A working session with the Constitutional Review Commission will also focus on the role of Ombudsman institutions and constitutional safeguards for administrative justice.

What can the Ombudsman do for citizens?

The Constitution empowers the Ombudsman to investigate administrative actions where a member of the public claims to have suffered injustice as a consequence of maladministration.

This may include unreasonable delays in processing applications, administrative errors, failure to follow established procedures, unfair treatment, abuse of authority or failure by a public authority to take appropriate action.

The Ombudsman's jurisdiction covers administrative actions undertaken by Government departments, the Mauritius Police Force, the Mauritius Prison Service, local authorities and the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, among other prescribed authorities.

A complaint must relate to a personal injustice allegedly suffered as a result of maladministration. The Office does not replace the courts or act as an appeal body against every administrative decision. Its responsibility is to investigate complaints impartially, establish the facts and make recommendations where appropriate.

Importantly, its services are provided free of charge, ensuring that citizens have access to an independent mechanism through which they can raise their concerns.

Mr Ramsaha encourages the public to make use of this avenue whenever they believe they have been treated unfairly by an authority falling within the Office's jurisdiction.

“Citizens should not feel that they have no recourse when they believe an administrative action has caused them an injustice. The Office provides an independent mechanism through which such concerns can be examined objectively. We also encourage public authorities to consider our findings and recommendations as opportunities to improve their procedures and the quality of their services,” he stated.

Beyond investigating individual complaints, the Office contributes to identifying weaknesses in administrative procedures and encouraging improvements within public institutions. Its mission is to address administrative injustices and promote good administration, thereby strengthening public confidence in the public sector.

Modernising services and raising public awareness

As public expectations evolve, the Office is taking steps to improve its accessibility and modernise its operations. The National Public Awareness Campaign and Trilingual Service Guide being launched during the anniversary celebrations will help citizens better understand the Ombudsman's mandate, functions and services.

The introduction of the Electronic Complaint Management System is another important development. The digital platform is intended to modernise the management of complaints and improve administrative efficiency.

According to Mr Ramsaha, public awareness is essential to the effective functioning of the institution.

“Citizens must be aware of the existence of the Office, understand its mandate and know how to approach it. Through our awareness initiatives, multilingual information and digital facilities, we aim to make our services more accessible and responsive to the needs of the population,” he explained.

Strengthening international cooperation

The anniversary will also bring together international delegates from countries including Austria, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Nigeria, Pakistan and Seychelles.

The Office of the Ombudsman of Mauritius is a full voting member of three international and regional organisations: the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), the Association des Ombudsmans et Médiateurs de la Francophonie (AOMF) and the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA).

These organisations promote cooperation, professional development and the exchange of experiences among Ombudsman institutions.

The international programme will include discussions on the evolving role of Ombudsman institutions, human rights, good governance and administrative justice. A working session with the Constitutional Review Commission will provide an opportunity to exchange views on institutional frameworks and constitutional safeguards.

Looking towards the future

The importance of the Office is recognised in the Government Programme 2025–2029, which highlights the commitment to reinforce the independent Constitutional Office and broaden its functions to enhance the quality of public services.

As the institution marks 56 years, its priorities include strengthening its investigative capacity, improving accessibility, embracing digital transformation and increasing public awareness of its mandate.

For Mr Ramsaha, the anniversary is both a celebration of past achievements and an opportunity to prepare the institution for the future.

“Our responsibility towards citizens must remain at the heart of everything we do. We must continue to evolve, embrace innovation and strengthen our capacity to address administrative injustices. Our commitment is to contribute to a public service that is fair, transparent, responsive and accountable,” he affirmed.

After 56 years, the Office of the Ombudsman remains an important constitutional safeguard for citizens and a key institution in promoting good governance. Its enduring mission is to give citizens a voice, uphold fairness and contribute to a public administration founded on integrity, transparency and respect for the people it serves.

An institution dedicated to protecting citizens

The Ombudsman institution originated in Sweden as an independent mechanism to protect citizens against administrative errors, abuse of authority, violations of rights and other forms of injustice resulting from the actions or inaction of public authorities.

In Mauritius, the proposal to establish a similar institution dates back to the Constitutional Review Talks held at the Colonial Office in 1961, well before Independence. Following discussions during the constitutional debates, provision was made for the institution under Chapter IX of the Constitution. The Ombudsman Act was enacted in 1969, and the Office officially commenced operations in 1970.

Since its establishment, the institution has played an important role in strengthening administrative accountability and ensuring that public authorities exercise their responsibilities fairly and in accordance with the principles of good administration.

12 November 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

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Topics: Office of Ombudsman