Sikkim HC row derails senior judge’s elevation as chief justice

The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday recommended new chief justices for five high courts, including Sikkim, where the senior-most judge appears to have lost her chance to head the state judiciary following a controversy over a series of administrative decisions taken against her predecessor within hours of his retirement.

- Utkarsh Anand

‘According to people aware of the developments, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, the senior-most judge of the Sikkim High Court, issued a flurry of contentious administrative directions soon after assuming charge as acting chief justice on December 15, targeting her predecessor, Justice Biswanath Somadder, who had retired just a day earlier after a four-year term.

Justice Rai not only undertook a sweeping overhaul of the high court registry and the district judiciary, but also issued directions for the immediate withdrawal of security and facilities, including an official car and driver, that had been provided to Justice Somadder.