NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has reversed its recent decision to cut use of loudspeakers and public address system during poll campaign period by 5 hours, and restored the original permissible timings of 6 am to 10pm. This is in deference to a suggestion made by some political parties at the August 28 consultation held by Election Commission to review poll-related issues.The Commission had around a month back issued an order restricting use of loudspeakers for poll campaigning, as sought via a court petition and by some citizens groups, to between 8 am and 7 pm. The purpose was to prevent ‘noise pollution’ and disturbance caused to the general public by the “reckless, widespread and flagrant use of loudspeakers during election canvassing and campaign by candidates, political parties and their agents”. The Commission was particularly concerned about the effect of loudspeakers on the student community as their studies got hampered due to blaring noise right from early hours in the morning to late in the night.However, many parties — particularly the Left and Trinamool Congress - objected to this order at the all-party meeting, stating that it was bound to adversely affect their poll campaigns and ability to reach the maximum number of voters, given the already short window of 14 days for campaigning.Appreciating the feedback ahead of general election due next year, the EC has now issued a fresh order reversing the restricted timings and allowing the political parties and candidates to take up poll campaign activities through use of loudspeakers both at public meetings and on campaign vehicles, between 7 am and 10 pm everyday.“We restored the extended timings as it was felt that the 14-day campaign period was already short. Rather, it is 12 days as the last 48 hours is anyway ‘silence period’. Also, it was argued that most of the people are at work during the day and can be reached only after office hours. Loudspeaker use will now be restricted only between 10 pm and 6 am,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O P Rawat told TOI.Another key suggestion being considered by EC is raising the extent of VVPAT slips to be tallied with EVM count. “We will scientifically determine the percentage of VVPAT slips to be counted so that confidence levels of the political parties and voters are 99.9% and the margin of error a minimal 0.01%,” said an EC functionary.