Gangtok, July 11 -- Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, one of the most distinguished daughters of Sikkim and the first woman from the state to become a High Court judge, retired on Saturday, July 11, 2026, as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, bringing to a close a remarkable judicial career spanning more than three decades.

Justice Rai demitted office after serving as the 48th Chief Justice of the Patna High Court for a little over a month. She was sworn in on June 5, 2026, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on May 22, 2026. Though her tenure at the top of one of India's oldest High Courts was brief, it marked a historic peak in a career that began in the district court...