(1) In a Gram Sabha where there is more than one Polling Station, the Presiding Officer of each Polling Station shall, as soon as practicable, after the close of the poll, close the ballot-boxes used at the Polling Station in such manner as the Election Commission may direct and forward them to the Returning Officer.
(2) When the ballot boxes used at all the Polling Stations, in his Sabha or Constituency area have been received the Returning Officer shall, as soon as practicable, follow the procedure prescribed in rule 33 for the counting of votes and the declaration of results:
Provided that in case of Constituency of a Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad ballot-boxes from all the polling stations of a Constituency may be kept at a secured place and counting may be done on a day fixed for counting by the Returning Officer and at a place to be notified in advance :
Provided further that separate Counting Staff will be deployed for counting and the candidate may also deploy one counting agent for each counting table and one more counting agent for the table of the Returning Officer. The counting will be done by the counting staff and at the end of the each round the result of counting shall be compiled.