Meenakshi Madan Rai (born 12 July 1964) is a retired Indian jurist who had served as the 48th chief justice of Patna High Court. She is a former judge of the Sikkim High Court. She has also served as Acting Chief Justice of that High Court various times.
Early life and education Justice Rai was born 12 July 1964 to Madan Mohan Rasaily and Rabi Mala Rasaily, Former Home Secretary to Government of Sikkim and former school teacher respectively. She completed her schooling in Sikkim and graduated from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi and earned her Law degree from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University and enrolled as advocate with Bar Association of Delhi in 1990.
Career She joined Sikkim Judicial Services in 1990 and rose through the ranks to eventually become Registrar General of Sikkim High Court twice in 2006 and 2009 respectively. She was elevated to the bench of Sikkim High Court on 15 April 2015 becoming the first lady from Sikkim to hold the post of High Court Judge.
In Sikkim High Court, she served as Acting Chief Justice in 2018, 2019, 2021, and lastly in 2025.
In last leg of her judicial career, her chances of being elevated as permanent chief justice were halted by the controversy, which arose due to her administrative directions in capacity of acting chief justice targeting her predecessor Biswanath Somadder nevertheless, on 22 May 2026, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Rai as the next chief justice of Patna High Court after retirement of the Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo on 4 June 2026. Central government cleared her elevation on 2 June 2026.
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