The Central government on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) notified the appointment of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai of the Sikkim High Court as the next Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
Notably, the Supreme Court Collegium had on May 22, 2026 recommended her name for appointment following the impending retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who is set to retire on June 4, 2026.
Born on July 12, 1964, Justice Rai completed her schooling in Gangtok and Kurseong before pursuing Political Science (Honours) at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, on a merit scholarship from the Government of Sikkim. She later earned her LL.B. from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University in 1989.
Before joining the Bench, she enrolled with the Bar Association of Delhi in 1990 and practised before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court as an Advocate-on-Record.
Justice Rai was appointed as a Judge of the Sikkim High Court on April 15, 2015, becoming the first woman from Sikkim to be elevated to the High Court Bench.
She has also served as Acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on multiple occasions and is currently serving as Executive Chairperson of the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority.
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