MUMBAI, February 2: The Bombay High Court today dismissed a petition challenging the rules framed by the Election Commission (EC) which require an independent candidate to furnish a minimum of 10 proposers and pay Rs 10,000 as security deposit.Chief Justice M B Shah and Justice Rajan Kochar noted in their order that section 33 of the Representation of People's Act 1951 clearly laid down that nomination papers of an independent candidate should be subscribed by ten proposers, while section 34 prescribed Rs 10,000 as security deposit.
The petitioner, Shakeel Reshamwala, said while an independent was required to produce minimum ten persons to sponsor his candidature, a national party candidate needed only one. Raising the security deposit from Rs 500 to 10,000 was unaffordable for independent candidates. He added that the rights of citizens under article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality to all, were also infringed upon.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
