Justice Hegde had already shown how effective a state level ombudsman can be, and had already exposed massive corruption in the mining industry in Karnataka state.

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Mr Hazare's group wants a separate ombudsman in every state.

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In similar fashion, in early January, when the country was still reeling from disastrous floods, the assembly quietly appointed a host of the president's nominees to head supposedly independent state institutions, ranging from the Supreme Court to the Central Bank, and including the ombudsman, the attorney-general and the comptroller (national auditor).

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