The Top Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to consider whether the polling time can be modified and voting can begin from 5 am instead of 7 am in the view of Ramzan month. Ramzan month is coinciding with remaining three phases of the general elections 2019 – May 6, May 12 and May 19.
Supreme Court asks Election Commission to decide on pleas for re-scheduling the voting time from 7 am to 5 am in General Election during the month of Ramzan coinciding with the rest of the phases and due to heat-wave conditions in Rajasthan and other areas. pic.twitter.com/Nd952ZxZQ4
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2019
The Top Court bench order came following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking to extend voting timings in the remaining phases of national polls 2019. The petition filed by further seeking an extension of 2 or 2.5 hours of voting by starting the polls at 5 am instead of a notified time of 7 am.
The petition claimed due to heat-wave conditions in Rajasthan and other regions, Muslim would not come out to vote. The petitioners further claimed that they have already met the Election Commission on the same issue.
General Elections 2019 has already started and is being across seven phases starting April 11 to May 19. Phase-V is slated for May 6. Counting of the votes will be held on May 23. Voting of the remaining 169 constituencies will be held in three phases slated on May 6, May 12 and May 19.
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