Appointment of Presiding Officers for polling stations

(1) The State Election Commission shall appoint a Presiding Officer for each polling station and such Polling Officer or officers as it thinks necessary: 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 or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for, a candidate in or in relation to the election, to be the Presiding Officer during the absence of the former officer, and inform the election commission 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 this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder. In the Principal Act, the section 179 shall be omitted.