(1) If at any election-
(a) any ballot box used at a polling station or at a place appointed for counting of votes is unlawfully taken out of the custody of the Presiding Officer or the Returning Officer, or is accidentally or intentionally destroyed, or lost, or is damaged or tampered with to such an extent that the result of the poll at that polling station cannot be ascertained; or
(b) any such error or irregularity in procedure as is likely to vitiate the poll is committed at the polling station, the Returning Officer shall forthwith report the matter to District Election Officer and the State Election Commission.
(2) Thereupon, the District Election Officer shall, after taking all material circumstances into account either-
(a) declare the poll at the polling station to be void, appoint a day and fix the hours for taking a fresh poll at that polling station and direct that the day so appointed and the hours so fixed be published in the manner laid down in 37 clause (b) of sub-rule (4) of Rule 56, besides intimating the contesting Candidates or their election Agents; or
(b) if satisfied that the result of a fresh poll at the polling station will not in any way affect the result of the election or that the error or irregularity in procedure is not material, issue such direction to the Returning Officer as he may deem proper for the further conduct and completion of election.
(3) The provisions of these Rules or Orders made thereunder shall apply to every such fresh poll as they apply to the original poll.