The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Meenakshi M. Rai, presently serving as a judge of the Sikkim High Court, as the next Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
The Apex Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice JK Maheshwari, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice MM Sundresh as its members, took the decision during a meeting held on May 22, 2026, ahead of the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on June 4, 2026.
A resolution issued by the Collegium on Saturday said the recommendation would now be processed by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, following which the President of India would issue the warrant of appointment under Article 217 of the Constitution.
The recommendation assumes significance amid continuing discussions on the representation of women in the higher judiciary. Upon appointment, Justice Rai would be among the few women presently serving as Chief Justices of High Courts across the country.
Born on July 12, 1964, Justice Rai completed her schooling in Sikkim before pursuing Political Science (Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi. She later obtained her LL.B. degree from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, in 1989. She enrolled with the Bar Association of Delhi in 1990 and briefly practised law before joining the Sikkim Judicial Service later that year, becoming the first woman judicial officer in Sikkim.
During her judicial career, Justice Rai served in multiple capacities within the subordinate judiciary and later held the post of District and Sessions Judge. She also served as Registrar General of the High Court of Sikkim on two occasions, handling key administrative responsibilities.
Justice Rai was elevated as a judge of the Sikkim High Court on April 15, 2015, becoming the first woman from the State to be appointed to the High Court Bench. She has also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim on several occasions, including in 2018, 2019, 2021 and most recently between December 2025 and January 2026.
Her proposed appointment to the Patna High Court is being viewed as a significant development in the judicial appointments process, considering her judicial seniority, administrative experience and long tenure in the constitutional court system.
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