Prevention of Corruption Act, S. 2(c) – “public servant”, the definition is extremely wide.

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Section 2(c) – “public servant” –  The definition is extremely wide and includes within its ken even arbitrators or other persons to whom any cause or matter has been referred for decision or report by a court of justice or by a competent public authority, office bearers of registered co-operative societies engaged in agriculture, industry, trade or banking, who receive financial aid from the Government, Office bearers or employees of educational, scientific, social, cultural or other institutions in whatever manner established, receiving financial assistance from the Government or local or other public authorities are also included – Explanation 1 states that in order to be a public servant, one need not be appointed by Government, Explanation 2 refers to a de facto, as opposed to a de jure, public servant, discounting whatever legal defect there may be in his right to hold that “situation”.                                                                                        

ASIAN RESURFACING OF ROAD AGENCY PVT. LTD. V. CENTRAL BURUEAU OF INVESTIGATION, 2018 SCeJ 688