Section 44 in Madhya Pradesh Farmers' Organisation Election Rules, 1999
44. Disturbances at the time of counting of votes. - (1) If at any time before the counting of votes is completed and ballot papers used at a polling station or at a place fixed for the poll are unlawfully taken out of the custody of the Election Officer or are accidentally or intentionally destroyed or lost or are damaged or tampered with, to such an extent that the result of the poll at that polling station or place cannot be ascertained, the Election Officer forthwith report the matter to the Divisional Election Authority.
(2)Thereupon, the Divisional Election Authority after taking all materials, circumstances into account, either-(a)direct that the counting of votes shall be stopped, declare the poll at that polling station or place to be void, appoint a day, and fix the hours for taking a fresh poll at that polling station or place and notify the date so appointed and hours so fixed in such manner as he may deem fit, or(b)if satisfied that the result of a fresh poll at that polling station or place will not, in any way, affect the result of the election, issue such directions to the Election Officer as may deem proper for the resumption and completion of the election and for further conduct and completion of the election in relation to which the votes have been counted.(3)The provisions of these Rules and any rules or orders made thereunder shall apply to any and every such fresh poll as they apply to the original poll.
