Today, On 8th May, The SCBA Election Committee has announced that candidates contesting in SCBA Election 2025 will receive a refund of their security deposit only if they secure 20% or more of the total valid votes polled.
New Delhi: The Election Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) issued Notice No. 2 regarding the refundable security deposit for the upcoming SCBA elections.
This notice, numbered SCBA/Election.81/2025, explains the financial requirements for candidates who wish to contest the elections for various posts in the association.
In the notice, the Election Committee said that in the 2024 elections, SCBA had spent a total amount of Rs. 8,31,720/– for conducting the elections. But in return, only Rs. 2,48,000/- was collected from the candidates through nomination charges.
Because of this big difference in the amount spent and the amount received, the Election Committee has now decided to ask for a separate refundable security deposit from candidates in addition to the nomination fee.
The Election Committee clearly stated,
“In the election held in 2024 a total amount of Rs. 8,31,720/- was spent by SCBA. As against this, a sum of Rs. 2,48,000/- was received from the candidates by way of nomination charges.”
It added,
“In view of huge expenditure incurred by SCBA in holding of the election, the Election Committee has decided that the candidate shall make the following security deposits along with the fee for contesting elections”
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As per the new rule, the refundable security deposit for different posts is fixed as follows:
- President: Rs. 1,50,000/-
- Vice President: Rs. 1,00,000/-
- Honorary Secretary: Rs. 75,000/-
- Treasurer: Rs. 50,000/-
- Joint Secretary: Rs. 35,000/-
- Joint Treasurer: Rs. 35,000/-
- Senior Executive Member: Rs. 30,000/-
- Executive Member: Rs. 25,000/-
The Committee explained that this deposit will be given back to the candidate only if they get at least 20% or more of the valid votes. Otherwise, the deposit will be taken by SCBA.
The official notice says,
“The aforesaid security deposit would be refunded to those who have received 20% or more of the valid votes polled, on an application by the candidates within one week of the declaration of the result. The security deposit of those candidates who have received less than 20% of the valid votes polled, would be forfeited.”
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The notice has been signed by three senior members of the SCBA Election Committee:
- Vijay Hansaria (Sr.), Chairman, Election Committee, Supreme Court Bar Association
- Jitendra Mohan Sharma (Sr.), Member, Election Committee, Supreme Court Bar Association
- Mahalakshmi Pavani (Sr.), Member, Election Committee, Supreme Court Bar Association
This decision by the Election Committee shows that SCBA wants to ensure financial discipline and also discourage non-serious candidates from contesting the elections.