Section 21 EPA 1986 (Members, officers and other employees of the authority to be public servants) declares them to be 'public servants' for the purposes of:

1. Section 21 EPA 1986: 'All the members of the authority, constituted, if any, under section 3, and all officers and other employees of such authority when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).' 2. Section 21 IPC defines 'public servant' — includes those exercising statutory functions on behalf of the State. 3. This deeming provision is important for: (i) protection from prosecution for good faith acts (Section 18 EPA); (ii) accountability under IPC offences against public servants (Sections 161-171) and by public servants (Sections 166-167). 4. Hence option B is correct. _Source: EPA 1986 / Constitution / International Conventions — Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Section 21_