- All members, officers and employees of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of the discharge of their duties, or in the exercise of their powers under this Act or under the Rules or byelaws made thereunder, to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act, 45 of 1860).
