Is the Torah reader (baal koreh) allowed to touch the scroll with the yad or not? (Possible reasons: Allow to create a physical contact with the words of Torah; disallow to avoid premature damaging of the scroll.) Is the answer halacha or custom?

There is a widespread perception in non-traditional congregations that the Torah scroll can count as a tenth to make a minyan. However, the Code of Jewish Law does not mention that. It only says that some authorities allow a six-year-old boy to count as the tenth in a minyan, provided he hold...