Section 70 in The M.P. Panchayat Nirvachan Niyam, 1995
70. Adjournment of poll in emergency.
(1)If at an election, the proceedings at any polling station for the poll are interrupted or obstructed by any riot or open violence, or if at an election it is not possible to take the poll at any polling station on account of any natural calamity, or any other sufficient cause, the Returning Officer or the Presiding Officer for such polling station shall announce an adjournment of the poll to a date to be fixed later and where the poll is so adjourned by the Presiding Officer, he shall forthwith inform the Returning Officer concerned.(2)Whenever a poll is adjourned under sub-rule (1), the Returning Officer shall immediately report the circumstances to the Commission through the District Election Officer which shall, as soon as may be, fixed the day on which the poll shall recommence and fix the polling station at which and the hours during which, the poll shall be taken. The Returning Officer shall not count the votes cast at such election until such adjourned poll shall have been completed.(3)The Presiding Officer shall follow, as far as practicable, the provisions of Rules 66 to 69 in the matter of sealing the ballot boxes and other packets. Preparation of accounts of ballot papers and delivery of the ballot boxes and other polled material, in the case of the adjourned poll, as if the poll were closed at the hour initially fixed in that behalf under Rule 28.(4)In every such case as aforesaid, the District Election Officer shall publish the date, place and hours of the poll fixed under sub-rule (2) in the manner laid down in Rule 29 and the provisions of the rules governing Unoriginal poll shall mutatis mutandis apply to the fresh poll taken under this rule.
