The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting convened on May 22, 2026, has recommended the appointment of Ms. Justice Meenakshi M. Rai as the next Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
According to the official Collegium statement released on May 23, Justice Rai, who is currently serving as a Judge of the High Court of Sikkim, is slated to succeed the incumbent Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, who is scheduled to demit office on June 4, 2026.
The transition marks a pivotal administrative movement in the Indian higher judiciary, bringing one of the country’s most experienced judicial officers from the northeastern region to head one of India’s oldest and largest High Courts.
The Transition at Patna High Court
The recommended appointment comes in anticipation of the upcoming vacancy created by the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who was appointed as the head of the Patna High Court in January 2026 and is scheduled to retire on June 4, 2026, upon reaching the constitutional retirement age of 62.
The Collegium’s recommendation will now be processed by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, after which the formal warrant of appointment will be issued by the President of India under Article 217 of the Constitution.
Profile
Born on July 12, 1964, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai has built a career defined by historic milestones:
- Academic Foundation: She completed her schooling in Sikkim, graduated with Political Science (Honours) from the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, and subsequently earned her LL.B. from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, in 1989.
- Judicial Service Entry: Enrolling with the Bar Association of Delhi in 1990, she practiced briefly before joining the Sikkim Judicial Service on December 11, 1990. In doing so, she became the first female judicial officer in the history of the state of Sikkim.
- Administrative Leadership: She rose through the ranks of the state judiciary, serving as District & Sessions Judge and twice holding the critical administrative office of Registrar General of the High Court of Sikkim (in 2006 and 2009).
- Elevation to the High Court Bench: On April 15, 2015, she made history again when she was elevated as a Judge of the High Court of Sikkim—becoming the first woman from Sikkim to hold the position of a High Court Judge.
- Acting Chief Justice Roles: Over her tenure, Justice Rai’s seniority and administrative capabilities led to her appointment as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim on multiple occasions, including in 2018, 2019, 2021, and most recently from December 2025 to January 2026.
The elevation of Justice Rai is highly significant amidst ongoing national discussions regarding gender diversity within India’s higher judiciary. Out of the 25 High Courts in India, only a small fraction are headed by female Chief Justices.
