Cap. 385 ст. 13Functions.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, it shall be the function of the Ombudsman to investigate any action taken by or on behalf of the Government, or other authority, body or person to whom this Act applies, being action taken in the exercise of their administrative functions.

(2) The Ombudsman may conduct any such investigation on his initiative or on the written complaint of any person having an Ombudsman may, if he considers it desirable so to do, decline to exercise his power under this article in any case where adequate means of redress are or have been available to the complainant under any other law:

Provided that the Ombudsman may conduct an investigation if satisfied that in the particular circumstances it is not reasonable to expect the complainant to resort or have resorted to such means of redress.

(4) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this article, it is hereby declared that any Committee of the House of Representatives may at any time refer to the Ombudsman, any petition that is before that Committee for consideration, or any matter to which the petition relates. In any such case the Ombudsman shall, subject to any special directions of the Committee, investigate the matters so referred, so far as they are within his jurisdiction, and make such report to the Committee as he thinks fit. Nothing in article 17, or article 22, or article 23 of this Act shall apply in respect of any investigation or report made under this subarticle.

(5) The Ombudsman shall not proceed to investigate any complaint on the subject-matter of which proceedings are pending in a court or other tribunal, and shall suspend the investigation if any interested person shall file a demand before any court or other tribunal on the subject-matter of the investigation; provided that an investigation may be proceeded with in respect of problems of general interest contained in the complaint.

(6) Subject to the provisions of article 12(3) without limiting the foregoing provisions of this article, the Prime Minister may at any time refer to the Ombudsman for investigation and report any matter, other than a matter which is subject to judicial proceeding, which the Prime Minister considers should be investigated by the Ombudsman. Where, pursuant to this subarticle, a matter is investigated by the Ombudsman, he shall report thereon to the Prime Minister, and may thereafter make such report to Parliament on the matter as he thinks fit.

(7) The Ombudsman shall not conduct an investigation under this Act in respect of such action or matter as is described in the Second Schedule to this Act.

(8) In exercise of his functions the Ombudsman shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.