Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was born on 12 July 1964 at Gangtok, East Sikkim. She completed her schooling in Sikkim and graduated from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. She earned her Law degree from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Association of Delhi in 1990. She joined Sikkim Judicial Services in 1990 and became the 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 woman 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 December 2025. She was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 5 June 2026.