163Authorised official inquiry

163  Authorised official inquiry

 (1) The Returning Officer may, if authorised by the Electoral Commissioner, open a parcel referred to in rule 162 and remove material from the parcel.

 (2) Any material that has, under this rule, been taken out of a sealed parcel, may be retained by the Returning Officer or dealt with in the manner directed by the Electoral Commissioner.

 (3) Where the purpose has been satisfied for which any material was, under this rule, taken out of a sealed parcel, the Returning Officer must:

 (a) as soon as practicable, replace that material in the parcel from which it was taken and refasten and reseal that parcel; and

 (b) by endorsement on the parcel state that the parcel had been opened by him or her and the purpose for which it had been opened.

 (4) A Returning Officer who opens a sealed parcel under this rule must not mark, alter or in any way deface or permit any other person to mark, alter or deface, any document taken out of the parcel and is responsible for every such document being replaced in the same condition as when it was taken out.