Patna High Court. File photo
By Alok Mohit
Patna: The Patna High Court accorded a warm farewell to Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo on his retirement, with a full court address here on Thursday (June 4).
Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, a senior judge of the Sikkim High Court will be the next Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. An official notification issued by Jagannath Srinivasan, joint secretary in the Union ministry of law and justice, said Justice Rai would assume charge on June 5, 2026.
In an emotional farewell address at an event held at Shatabdi Hall, Justice Sahoo reflected on his brief but meaningful tenure as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. “Whatever was possible to achieve during these five months, I did. For me, this court was never merely an office; but a temple,” he said, drawing applause from the audience, comprising judges, senior advocates, law officers and members of the legal fraternity.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said working with Chief Justice Sahoo was a pleasant and enriching experience. Others who spoke on the occasion recalled his professional conduct and contribution to the institution.
Among those present on the occasion included Advocate Association president Yogesh Chandra Verma, Additional Advocate General Anjani Kumar, government pleader Prashant Pratap and many other lawyers. Members of Justice Sahoo’s family also attended the event.
Born on June 5, 1964, Justice Sahoo was completed his matriculation from Nuabazar High School in Cuttack and pursued his Intermediate Science and B.Sc. from Stewart Science College, Cuttack. He enrolled as an advocate with the Odisha State Bar Council on November 26, 1989, and began his legal practice in criminal and service-related matters.
He assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on January 7, 2026, and remained in the position until his retirement on June 4.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Justice Rai as the 48th Chief Justice of the Patna High Court marks another significant milestone in the growing representation of women in leadership positions within the Indian judiciary.
Justice Rai, daughter of former Sikkim home secretary Madan Mohan Rasaily, received her early education in Gangtok and Kurseong before moving to Delhi for higher studies. She graduated with honours in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, and later earned her law degree from the Campus Law Centre in 1989.
After enrolling with the Delhi Bar in 1990, she practised before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. Later that year, she cleared the Sikkim Judicial Service Examination and became the first woman in the state to be appointed as a First-Class Judicial Magistrate in Gangtok.
Over the years, Justice Rai served in various positions in the district judiciary and was twice appointed Registrar General of the Sikkim High Court. On April 15, 2015, she became the first woman from Sikkim to be appointed as a permanent judge of the High Court.
During her judicial career, she was entrusted with the responsibilities of Acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on five occasions, including between December 2025 and January 2026.
About the Author
Alok Mohit is a senior journalist based in Patna with decades of experience in mainstream journalism. He has previously served as Senior News Editor at Hindustan Times, Patna, and later at Hindustan Times, Chandigarh, where he played a key role in shaping news coverage and editorial direction. Known for his in-depth understanding of socio-political issues and strong editorial judgement, he continues to contribute insightful analysis and reporting on matters of public interest.
About the Author
