(1) If at any time before the counting of votes completed, any ballot papers used at the polling station are unlawfully taken out of the custody of the returning officer or accidentally or intentionally destroyed or lost or damaged or tampered with to such an extent that the result of the poll of that polling station cannot be ascertained, the returning officer shall forthwith report the matter to the State Election Commission.
(2) Thereupon, the State Election Commission shall after taking all material circumstances into account either,
(a) direct that the counting of votes shall be stopped, declare a repoll at the polling station concerned, appoint the day and fix the hour for taking the repoll and notify the date so appointed and hour so fixed in such a manner as it may deem fit, or
(b) if satisfied that the results of a fresh poll at that polling station or place will not in any way affect the result the State Election Commission shall issue such directions to the returning officer as it may deem proper for resumption and completion of the counting and for the further conduct and completion of the election in relation to which the votes have been counted.
(3) Provisions of these rules shall apply to every such fresh poll as they apply to the original poll.