India, Nov. 19 -- The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday constituted a high-powered supervisory committee headed by a retired apex court judge to oversee Elections in 16 State Bar councils, saying the poll process should be "just, fair and transparent".

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh, which directed holding of polls in State bar councils in multiple phases, said that every such bar body should have a new elected body in place by March 31, 2026.

It said the high-powered panel will be headed by a retired judge of the apex court and comprise a retired chief justice of the High Court and an eminent senior advocate, who contests the bar body elections.

The top court, however, did not name the three members of t...