Section 21T in The Bihar Co-operative Societies Rules, 1959
21T.
(1)If an election, proceedings at any polling station are interrupted or obstructed by any riot or violence, or is not possible to take the poll at any polling station/booth on account of any natural calamity, or any other sufficient cause, the Polling Officer for such polling station/booth shall announce an adjournment of the poll to a date to be notified later.(2)Whenever a poll is adjourned under sub-Rule (1) The Election Officer shall immediately report the circumstances to [Conducting Officer] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1 dated 1.2.1997.] and the Registrar, and shall, as soon as may be, with the previous approval of [Conducting Officer] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1 dated 1.2.1997.], appoint the day on which the poll shall recommence and fix the polling station/ booth at which, and the hours during which, the poll will be taken and shall not count the votes, cast at such election until such adjourned poll shall have been completed.(3)In every such case as aforesaid, the Election Officer shall notify in such manner as the [Conducting Officer] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1 dated 1.2.1997.] may direct, the date, place and hours of polling fixed under sub-Rule (2).(4)If at any election-(a)any ballot box used at a polling station/ booth is unlawfully taken out of the custody of the polling officer or is accidentally or intentionally destroyed or lost, or is damaged or tampered with, to such an extent, that the result of the poll at that polling station/booth cannot be ascertained, or(b)any such error or irregularity in procedure as is likely to vitiate the poll is committed at polling station/booth the polling officer shall forthwith report the matter to the Election Officer and to [Conducting Officer] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1 dated 1.2.1997.](5)Thereupon [Conducting Officer] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1 dated 1.2.1997.] shall, after taking all material circumstances into account declare the poll at that polling station/booth to be void, and appoint a day, and fix the hours for taking a fresh poll at that polling station/ booth and notify the day so appointed and the hours so fixed in such manner as he may deem fit.(6)The provision of this Rule shall apply to every such fresh poll as they apply to the original poll.
