EC declines to advance poll timing due to Ramzan

Election Commission has rejected a plea to advance commencement of polls during the last three phases of the Lok Sabha elections to 5 AM instead of 7 AM due to Ramzan. 

The Islamic holy month of fasting will begin tomorrow. 

The Supreme Court on Thursday had directed the Election Commission to take a call on a plea seeking to advance the voting timing to 5 AM for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections due to heat waves and Ramzan.

According to



the poll panel, the polling hour which is 11 hours is long enough against the statutory eight hours for the convenience of all sections of the society and it does not find it feasible to alter the existing hours for polling for the 5th, 6th and 7th phase. 

The fifth phase polling is today, while the sixth and seventh phase is on 12th and 19th of this month.

The EC had set up a committee of officers on the issue.