New Delhi- The Supreme Court on Monday indicated that all state bar council elections will be held under the supervision of retired high court judges to ensure a free and fair poll process.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said there is a trust deficit with the Bar Council of India (BCI), as well as state bar councils, and therefore an independent election panel headed by retired high court judges in each state will be appointed to oversee the process.

Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, who is also the Bar Council of India chairman, said that the body does not have any objections if retired judges are appointed for conducting the elections to the bar bodies.

“State Bar council or Bar association elections are the most difficult elections on earth,” Justice Kant said,

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