Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation

Your complaint must relate to a personal injustice in consequence of maladministration in connection with an action taken by an authority (Ministry/ Department, Local Authority, Rodrigues Regional Assembly, the Police Force, Prison Service)
For example -

a) wrong decision by the authority

b) failure by the authority to take action

c) unjust manner in which the authority has acted

d) unreasonable delay in taking action thus causing prejudice, etc.

While the Ombudsman Act 1969 does not give any definition of maladministration, here are the following as examples:

• Unreasonable delay

• Failure to act or apply the rules, law or policy properly

• Unjust action

• Injustice caused

• Failure to take any action

a)Any citizen or group of citizens who is personally affected by the actions/decisions/ inaction of a public authority.

b)A foreigner may also complain where the complaint relates to action taken in relation to him while he was present in Mauritius.

c)A prisoner or inmate of a mental or other similar institution: the letter is to be forwarded by the institution to the Ombudsman unopened.

d)The Ombudsman may himself, on his own initiative, start an investigation e.g. after taking cognisance in the Press of a particular problem affecting any person/ group of persons/ the public at large.

We may investigate the actions/ decisions of all Ministries, Departments, Local Authorities and Rodrigues Regional Assembly providing public services in Mauritius, Rodrigues & Agalega, the Police Force and the Prison Service.

a)The President or his personal staff

b)The Chief Justice

c)Any Commission established under the Constitution e.g. the Public Service Commission

d)The Director of Public Prosecutions or any person acting in accordance with his instructions

e)Any person exercising powers delegated to him by the Public Service Commission or the Disciplined Forces Service Commission.

No. Complaints against Financial Institutions fall under the responsibility of the Ombudsperson for Financial Services.

You should first of all report the matter to the authority concerned and await for a reply within 5 working days. We are an Office of last resort.

In principle, no. We afford an opportunity to the concerned authority to attend to your complaint first.

You may address your complaint to the Ombudsman through the following options:

(i)By way of letter

(ii)Online complaint form available on our website

(iii)Email on omb@govmu.org or ombinvestigation@govmu.org

No, all complaints should be made in writing. However, we provide service information through phone.

Yes, they can. You will have to give them permission to do that, which you can give on our Complaint form or in a letter.

Yes. There is a time limit of 12 months from the date the cause of action has arisen, unless you provide reasonable cause for the delay.

Any supporting document to your complaint, e.g. letter addressed to an authority regarding the subject-matter of your complaint. You should also provide your full name, national identity number, address, profession and contact details.

Yes, you can do so at any moment by writing to us and specifying the reason thereof.

Upon receipt of your complaint, you will receive an acknowledgement within 5 working days. Thereafter, we will keep you informed of any progress/development in our investigation.

In the exercise of the Ombudsman’s statutory functions, the Ombudsman is not subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.

No, we do not name the person who made the complaint, and usually refer to him/her as Mr/Mrs/Ms in our Annual Report.

No, the service is free of charge.

Yes, we’re open from 09 00hrs to 16 00hrs on Mondays to Fridays, except weekends and Public Holidays.

Address:

Office of the Ombudsman

2nd Floor,

City Centre Building

Cnr Corderie No 31 & Leoville L'Homme No 11 streets

Port-Louis



Reception Desk: 260 0111

Fax: 2113125

Email: omb@govmu.org, ombinvestigation@govmu.org

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