All State government offices in Tamil Nadu to maintain public grievance redress registers

The Tamil Nadu government has directed all departments to maintain public grievance redress registers, in which the action taken on each grievance would be recorded. The entries are to be reviewed every month to decide on further steps in relation to the grievances.

A government order issued by Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam for the Human Resources Management Department earlier this month said the registers were to be submitted during the weekly, monthly, and bi-monthly meetings for a review.

The State government’s decision on maintaining public grievance redress registers followed a judgment of the Madras High Court.

In its judgment delivered in February, the Madras High Court conveyed its expectation that delays would be avoided in future, so that citizens could get timely responses from the authorities rather than having to resort to legal action.

“Hereinafter, the authorities concerned are directed to comply with the directions of this court in letter and in spirit, failing which this court will take serious action against those erring officials. Further, if any order is passed by the officials after the filing of the contempt petition, the same will not be considered by this court,” the High Court had said.

Though there had been multiple orders, advisories, and communications following judgments of the Madras High Court, the Chief Secretary said: “The judgment of the Madras High Court delivered on February 12, 2025 indicates that there have been deficiencies in resolving grievances highlighted in pleas.” Hence, the authorities were instructed to follow the G.O.s, advisories and communications issued in this regard, he added.

The government had issued multiple orders since 2006 to officials handling pleas highlighting grievances from the general public. A G.O. issued by the then Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department (since renamed as the Human Resources Management Department) in September 2015 mandated the government officials to redress the grievances of the public within one month from the date of receipt of their complaint.