SC to EC: Can polling start from 4.30am due to Ramzan?

NEW DELHI: In what could yield the fastest decision on a poll related PIL, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to take a decision on a plea for advancing the start of voting from 7 am to 4.30 am for the next three phases of polling which fall during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. The fifth phase of polling is on May 6, the day Ramzan begins.
Appearing on behalf of petitioner Mohammad Nizamuddin Pasha, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora requested a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi for urgent listing of the petition seeking advancement of voting time during Ramzan.The court took the petition on board and directed the EC to pass an appropriate order taking the plea to be a representation.
Pasha, an advocate in the SC, requested the court that the next three phases of polling on May 6, 12 and 19 needed to be advanced “on account of unprecedented heat wave prevailing in several parts of the country and the onset of the holy month of Ramzan”.
“In the intense heat, it will be very difficult for Muslim voters to queue up at polling booths during the day to exercise their franchise. During Ramzan, most practising Muslims stay up/wake up for an early morning meal called ‘sehri’ and sleep after the morning ‘fajr’ prayers. Thereafter, they avoid going out in the heat to the extent possible to avoid thirst, dehydration and the possibility of getting a heatstroke,” his petition said.
“In the present weather conditions which are expected to continue during Ramzan, which commences from May 6, many Muslims would be unable to go out and exercise their franchise once the heat conditions of the day firm up. Advancing the polling hours in these three phases by two to two-and-a-half hours so as to commence at 4.30-5 am instead of the notified time of 7 am will allow Muslim voters to cast their votes immediately after ‘fajr’ prayers and return home before the day’s heat conditions commences,” Pasha said.
He said in a democracy, free and fair elections meant ensuring a fair opportunity to members of all communities to cast their votes, which alone could strengthen democracy. He said he had given a representation to the EC on April 29 but had not received any acknowledgement.