This refers to the Chinese Whispers item "One of our own" (February 3), that gave an instance of political leaders mentioning, in a derogatory manner, the forfeiting of deposit in an election. This has become an idiom of ridicule in common parlance. While losing an election is painful, mentioning of forfeiting of deposit is like rubbing salt into the wounds. My short search informs that one's deposit (which is Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 for parliamentary and Assembly elections, respectively, with Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes candidates depositing half the amount) is forfeited if they do not get more than one-sixth of the total valid votes cast in an election; and if he/she loses the election. But why one-sixth, why not one-fourth or one-seventh?
If this provision was introduced to avoid frivolous candidates, it appears to have lost its relevance now, with a large number of candidates in the fray. This practice can be stopped without any consequences. The forfeited money must not be contributing much to the Consolidated Fund of India. Section 158 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, needs to be amended to abolish this practice. Instead, we should celebrate the courage of all those who valiantly fought the elections, even if they lost. They were all part of the celebration of our democracy.
Y P Issar Karnal
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