There is a security deposit of Rs. 25,000 for the general category candidate and Rs. 12,500 for the SC/ST candidates for Lok Sabha Elections in India, Similarly for the state election it is Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5, 000 respectively.
Section 34 of R. P. Act 1951 deals with the security deposit, prior to 1996 it was Rs. 500/250 for Lok Sabha election and Rs. 250/125 for the state elections.
What is the purpose of the Security Deposit.
To encourage serious people in the election and discourage non-serious one. A defeated candidate who fails to secure more than one sixth of the valid votes polled in the constituency will lose his security deposit and the person who secure more then one sixth of valid votes get refunded of the security deposit.
