To be eligible to run for office, each candidate must pay a security deposit, a sum of money with the Election Commission. This deposit is lost if a candidate doesn’t receive the necessary amount of votes.
This Phenomenon of losing the deposited amount is called ‘Jamanat Japt’.
First, understand what is ‘Jamanat Japt’
In real life, a candidate must deposit money with the Election Commission before running in any election. We refer to this as a security deposit also known as Jamanat Japt in Hindi. This takes place for the candidates running for office to take it seriously.
Now the question is: What is the sum in question? Let us inform you that the level of protection varies with each election.
How much is the ‘Jamanat Japt’?
Safety is not a one-size-fits-all number; it differs significantly in different types of elections, from local elections to presidential elections. This difference reflects the different scope and contribution of different elections in India’s democratic framework.
Who is responsible for election expenses?
Each state government pays the expenses of state assembly elections. But if the Raj Sabha elections take place together with the Lok Sabha elections, then in this situation the central and state governments bear half of the expenses.
How much amount in which elections?
Lok Sabha Elections: General category candidates have to deposit a security deposit of Rs 25,000. Whereas for SC and ST category candidates this amount is Rs 12,500.
Assembly Elections: The amount of security deposit for general category candidates is Rs 10,000, while SC and ST category candidates have to deposit Rs 5,000.
Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections: The amount of security deposit is the same for all categories. For the election of President and Vice President, the candidate has to deposit Rs 15,000.
When will the deposit be forfeited?
If a candidate does not get 1/6 of all valid votes in any election, ie. 16.67 percent of the votes, the electoral commission estimates that his deposit will be lost. In this situation, the Election Commission would also have confiscated the security. If the candidate receives more than 16.67% of the votes, his deposit will be returned. If the candidate withdraws from the candidature or his/her candidature is canceled for any reason, the deposit will also be returned in this situation. In addition, the winner’s deposit will be returned.
