Gangtok: Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
The appointment takes effect following the retirement of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder on December 14, according to an official notification issued by the Law Ministry.
The notification has been issued by Jagannath Srinivasan, Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
Justice Rai brings extensive judicial experience to the role and has previously served as Acting Chief Justice on multiple occasions in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The President of India has appointed Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, presently a judge of the Sikkim High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
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Article 223 of the Constitution provides for such an appointment to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of a High Court during the interregnum, until a permanent Chief Justice is appointed.
The history of the court can be traced back to 1955, when the High Court of Judicature (Jurisdiction and Powers) Proclamation, 1955 was issued to establish a High Court in Sikkim. The seat of the Sikkim High Court is at Gangtok, the administrative capital of the state. With a sanctioned court strength of three judges, the Sikkim High Court is the smallest High Court of India.
