(1) Any record or paper which a village-officer is required by law, or by any rule under this Act, to prepare or keep shall be deemed to be the property of the Government.
    (2) A village-officer shall, with respect to any such record or paper in his custody, be deemed for the purposes of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (I of 1872), to be a public officer having the custody of a public document which any person has a right to inspect.