Section 50 in Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations (Conduct of Election of Members, Election Expenses and Election Petitions) Rules, 2005
50. Scrutiny and opening of ballot boxes.
(1)The Returning Officer shall open, or cause to be opened, simultaneously the ballot box or boxes used at more than one polling station and shall have the total number of ballot papers found in such box or boxes counted and recorded in Part II of Form XXI.Provided that discrepancy, if any, between the total number of such ballot papers recorded as aforesaid and the total number of ballot papers shown against item No.5 of Part I shall also be recorded in Part II of Form XXI.(2)Before any ballot box is opened at a counting table, the counting agents present at that table shall be allowed to inspect the paper seal or such other seal as might have been affixed thereon and to satisfy themselves that it is intact.(3)The Returning Officer shall satisfy himself that none of the ballot boxes has in fact been tampered with.(4)If the Returning Officer is satisfied that any ballot box has in fact been tampered with, he shall not count the ballot papers contained in that box and shall follow the procedure laid down in Section 59 of the Act, in respect of that polling station.
