(1) The Returning Officer shall appoint a Presiding Officer for each polling station and such polling officer or officers as he thinks necessary, but shall not appoint any person who has been employed by the concerned society or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for a candidate in or about the election:
Provided that, if a polling officer is absent from the polling station, the Presiding Officer may appoint any person who is present at the polling station, other than a person who has been employed by the concerned society or on behalf of, or who has been otherwise working for a candidate in or about the election, to be the Polling Officer during the absence of such officer, and shall inform the Returning Officer accordingly.
(2) A Polling Officer shall, if so directed by the Presiding Officer, perform all or any of the functions of a Presiding Officer under these rules.
(3) If the Presiding Officer, owing to illness or otherwise or due to unavoidable cause, is absent from the polling station, his functions shall be performed by such polling officer as has been previously authorised by the Presiding Officer, to perform such functions during his absence.