The Commissioners main role is to monitor the implementation of the orders passed by the Supreme Court and seek redressal wherever appropriate. The Commissioners consider complaints ranging from local area complaints to those that are common to a larger set of people.

However complainants are encouraged to first try local grievance redressal mechanisms (through the panchayat/ block and district adminisatrtions) including the Advisor before approaching the Commissioners.

The Supreme Court has laid out the following grievance redressal mechanism in its order dated 8 May 2002. We must try and activate this system.

1. The Gram Sabhas are entitled to conduct a social audit into all Food/Employment schemes and to report all instances to misuse of funds to the respective implementing authorities, who shall on receipt of such complaints, investigate and taken appropriate action in accordance with law.
2. On a complaint being made to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat (CEO)/Collector regarding non-compliance of the orders of this Court the Concerned CEO/Collector shall record the salient features of the complaint in a register maintained for this purpose, acknowledge receipt of the complaint and forthwith secure compliance with this Court's order.
3. The CEO/Collector of all the Districts in the States and territories shall scrutinize the action taken by all the implementing agencies within their jurisdiction to ensure compliance with this court's orders and report to the Chief Secretary.
4. The responsibility for implementation of the order of this Court shall be that of the CEO/Collector. The Chief Secretary will ensure compliance with the order of this Court.
5. Dr. N.C. Saxena, former Planning Secretary, Government of India, and Mr.S.R. Shankaran*, former Secretary, Rural Development, Government of India, shall function as Commissioners of this Court for the purpose of looking into any grievance that my persist after the above-mentioned grievance resolution procedure has been exhausted.
6. On the Commissioner's recommending a course of action to ensure compliance with this Court's order, the State Government/UT administrations, shall forthwith act upon such recommendation and report compliance.
7. The Commissioners shall be at liberty to take the assistance of individuals and reliable organizations in the State and Union Territories. All officials are directed to fully cooperate with such persons/organizations, to bring about effective monitoring and implementation of the order of this Court.
8. The Gram Sabhas are empowered to monitor the implementation of the various schemes and have access to relevant information relating to, inter alia, selection of beneficiaries and the disbursement of benefits. The Gram Sabhas can raise their grievance (s) in the manner set out above and the redressal of the grievance (s) shall be done accordingly.

* Mr. S.R. Sankaran subsequently resigned. Currently Mr. Harsh Mander is assisting Dr. N.C. Saxena as Special Commissioner.