Section 47 in The Orissa Grama Panchayats Election Rules, 1965
47.
After the close of polling the Presiding Officer shall proceed to take up counting of the votes polled in the presence of the candidates and their polling agents who may be present at the polling stations. He shall first take up counting of the votes in the ballot-box relating to the membership of the ward. Each ballot-paper shall be carefully scrutinised by the Presiding Officer in the course of counting and a ballot-paper shall be liable to rejection on one or more of the following grounds, namely :(a)If it bears any mark or writing by which the voter can be identified;(b)If no vote is recorded thereon;(c)If votes are recorded in favour of more than one candidate;(d)If the mark indicating the vote is placed in such a manner so as to make it doubtful as to which candidate the vote has been given;(e)if the ballot-paper is spurious;(f)If it so damaged or mutilated that its genuineness cannot be established;(g)If it is of a design different from the one authorised for use at the polling station;(h)[ If it does not bear the seal and signature of the Presiding Officer.] [Inserted vide Orissa Gazette Extraordinary No. 1263, dated 15.11.1995, SRO No. 1260/95.]The Presiding Officer shall summarily decide at the time of scrutiny and in case of rejection shall so endorse under his signature on the ballot-paper itself. He shall also record the reason for each ballot-paper so rejected in a separate paper.
