Section 63(1) in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Elections) Rules, 1995
(1)A ballot paper shall be rejected -(a)if it bears any mark or writing by which the elector can be identified, or(b)if no vote is recorded thereon, or(c)if votes are given on it in favour of more candidates than the number of candidates to be elected, or(d)if the mark indicating the votes thereon is placed in such manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate the vote has been given, or(e)if it is a spurious ballot paper, or(f)if it is so damaged or mutilated that its identity as a genuine ballot paper cannot be established, or(g)if it bears a serial number, or is of a design, different from the serial numbers or design, as the case may be, of the ballot papers authorised for use at the particular polling station, or(h)if it does not bear both the distinguishing mark and/or the signature of the Presiding Officer which it should have borne under the provision of sub-rule (1) of rule 51 or the words [E.D.C.] [Substituted by G. O. Ms. No. 175, Rural Development (PE), dated the 28th August 1997.] under the sub-rule (1) of rule 52, or(i)if it is not the relevant ballot paper:Provided that where the Returning Officer is satisfied that any such defect as is mentioned in clause (g) or clause (h) has been caused by any mistake or failure on the part of a Presiding Officer, the ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground of such defect:Provided further that a ballot paper shall not be rejected merely on the ground that the mark indicating the vote is not distinct or made more than once, if the intention that the vote shall be for a particular candidate clearly appears from the way the paper is marked.
