In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, —
(a) “appointing authority” means the officer or authority empowered to make appointments to services and posts under a local authority;
(b) “Local authority” means a municipal corporation or a municipal council or a township committee or a Panchayat or a city improvement trust or any other authority by whatever name called, constituted under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of local self Government 1[or a Town Planning Trust or a development authority constituted under the Town Planning Act (IV of 1108) or the Madras Town Planning Act, 1920 (VII of 1920) or under both and includes the Kerala State Rural Development Board constituted under the Kerala State Rural Development Board Act, 1971 (15 of 1971)];
(c) “Public Service Commission” means the Kerala Public Service Commission.