Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai sworn in as Chief Justice of Patna High Court
Patna, June 5
Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was sworn in on Friday as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office to Chief Justice Rai at a ceremony held at Bihar Lok Bhavan in Patna, attended by judges of the Patna High Court and other dignitaries.
Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai greeted each other after the swearing-in ceremony.
Earlier this week, the Centre had cleared the appointment of Justice Rai as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, acting on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
"In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the President is pleased to appoint Smt. Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, Judge of the Sikkim High Court, as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court," Union Minister of State (I/C) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal had said in a post on X while announcing the appointment.
The apex court Collegium, in its meeting held on May 22, had recommended the appointment of Justice Rai, a judge of the Sikkim High Court, as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court consequent upon the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo on June 4.
Justice Rai takes over as the head of the Patna High Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Sahoo.
Born on July 12, 1964, Justice Meenakshi Madan 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 obtained her LL.B. degree from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, in 1989.
Before her elevation to the Bench, she was enrolled with the Bar Association of Delhi in 1990 and practised before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court under an Advocate-on-Record.
She 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 post.
Justice Rai has also served as Acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on multiple occasions and currently serves as the Executive Chairperson of the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Excellent appointment! Justice Rai's experience as Acting Chief Justice of Sikkim HC and her work with State Legal Services Authority will definitely benefit Bihar. But I hope she also focuses on reducing pendency of cases in Patna HC, which is a huge challenge here.
Another Northeastern judge in Bihar! Hope this promotes better understanding of diverse cultures. Justice Rai's academic background from DU is commendable. Though I'm curious how she'll handle the heavy caseload in Bihar. Let's see.
So proud! First woman from Sikkim to be a High Court judge, now Chief Justice of Patna HC. She broke several glass ceilings. 🙌 But the real test will be how she addresses the issue of judicial vacancies and infrastructure in Bihar courts.
A historic moment for Bihar judiciary. Justice Rai seems to have strong academic foundations and legal experience. I hope she brings efficiency and fairness to the bench. However, I'd like to see more transparency in the collegium system that appointed her.
Wonderful news for women in judiciary! Justice Rai's story from a small state to one of India's oldest High Courts is truly inspiring. May she serve Bihar with distinction and continue the legacy of fair justice. 🇮🇳
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