To discourage non-serious candidates from contesting the election.
Explanation
Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every candidate contesting an election to the Parliament or State Legislature is required to make a security deposit at the time of filing the nomination paper.Analysis:
- To cover the administrative expenses of the Election Commission. is incorrect: The administrative expenses of conducting elections are borne by the Government of India (for Lok Sabha elections) and the respective State Governments (for State Assembly elections). The deposit amount is nominal relative to election costs and is not intended to fund the Election Commission's operations.
- To discourage non-serious candidates from contesting the election. is correct: The primary objective of the security deposit is to discourage non-serious, independent, or frivolous candidates from contesting. By imposing a financial threshold, the system aims to ensure that only candidates with serious intent and a reasonable base of support appear on the ballot.
- To provide a fund for the security of the polling booths. is incorrect: The security of polling booths and election personnel is managed by the State Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). These security measures are funded through the state and central exchequers, not by candidate deposits.
- To contribute to the state treasury for developmental works. is incorrect: Although forfeited deposits are credited to the government treasury, the legislative intent behind the provision is regulation of the electoral process, not revenue generation for developmental works.
Key Takeaway: The security deposit acts as a deterrent against the proliferation of non-serious candidates. The deposit is forfeited if a candidate fails to secure more than one-sixth of the total valid votes polled in the constituency.