Section 51 in The Sikh Gurdwaras Board Election Rules, 1959
51. Scrutiny and rejection of ballot-papers.
(1)The ballot-papers so taken out shall be arranged in convenient bundles and scrutinised. In case where in an election two kinds of ballot-papers have been issued as prescribed in sub-rule (2) of rule 39, they shall be dealt with under this sub-rule separately and procedure laid down in the following sub-rules followed in each case.(2)The presiding officer shall reject a ballot-paper :-(a)if it bears any mark or writing by which the elector can be identified; or(b)if it is a spurious ballot-paper; or(c)if it has been so damaged or mutilated that its identity as a genuine ballot-paper cannot be established; or(d)if it bears a serial number, or is of a design, different from the serial number, or the design, as the case may be, of the ballot-papers authorised for use at the particular polling station; or(e)if it does not bear any mark which it should have borne under the provisions of rule 27; or(f)if votes are given on it in favour of more than one candidate; or(g)if no vote is recorded thereon; or(h)if the mark indicating the vote is placed on the ballot-papers in such a manner as to make it doubtful to which candidate the vote has been given.(3)Before rejecting any ballot-paper under sub-rule (2), the presiding officer shall allow each candidate, his election agent and one of the other agents, who may be present, reasonable opportunity to inspect the ballot-paper, but shall not allow them to handle it or any other ballot-paper.(4)The presiding officer shall endorse the letter `R' on every ballot-paper which he rejects and shall keep a brief record in form IX of every case of rejection.(5)All ballot-papers used at the polling station which are rejected under this rule shall be kept in a separate packet.
