Members and officers and employees to be public servants.

All members, officers and employees of the Gram Pnnchnynt and Zilla Panchayat shal! be deemed when acting 01' purporting to act in pursuance of the discharge of their duties, or ill the exercise of their powers under this Act or under the rules mack thereunder, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 5 of of the Indian Penal Cocie. 1860