JUDGMENT :

A.V. Savant, J.

Heard all the learned Counsel; Sri. Kelu Nambiar, Sri M.R. Rajendran Nair, and Sri. Sivadasan for the Petitioners, Sri. S. Venkita Subramania Iyer amicus curiae, Sri S. Parameswaran for the intervenors supporting the Petitioners; Sri M.K. Damodaran, learned Advocate General for the State of Kerala, Sri P. Sukumaran Nair, Sri P.C. Sasidharan, Sri N.N. Sugunapalan, and Sri Bechu Kurian Thomas for the Respondents.

2. By consent, these petitions were heard together and are disposed of by this common judgment.

3. What is challenged before us is the constitutional validity of some of the provisions of Chapter XXV-B, which has been newly inserted in the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, by Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 1999 (Act No. 13 of 1999), (for short, "Act") which came into force with effect from 24th March, 1999. Under the newly inserted Chapter XXV. B of the Act, an institution of Ombudsman consisting of seven persons (for short, "Ombudsman") has been created %The object of constituting the said Ombudsman is "to conduct a de-tailed enquiry regarding any proceedings of the Local Self Governing Bodies and the public servants holding office under it, conc