In Brief
In a panchayat election petition dispute, the Supreme Court clarified that security deposits required under Madhya Pradesh panchayat election rules need only be made in the name of the Specified Officer (the presiding officer), not necessarily in cash before him. The appellant had deposited the required security via treasury challan rather than direct payment to the officer. The Court held that the word 'deposit'—not 'payment'—in the rule permits flexibility in deposit method so long as funds are secured in the officer's name. Treasury deposit is valid. The High Court's insistence on cash payment before the officer was rejected as overly formalistic.
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