Section 44. Members, officers, and employees to be public servants

44. All members, officers and employees of the board, the NIRMAN Kshetra Authority, the nodal company and other Government company or project development agency shall, while acting or purporting to Act in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder, be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of clause (28) of section 2 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act no. 45 of 2023):br Provided that until the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act no. 45 of 2023) is brought into force, section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act No. 45 of 1860) shall be applicable in place of the said Act.