(1) The returning officer may have the ballot box or boxes used at more than one polling station opened and the ballot papers found in such boxes counted simultaneously.
(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 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 procedures laid down in rule 55.