Ram temple likely to get its first CEO as Trust meets on Wednesday

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is likely to consider three shortlisted candidates for the post of the first CEO of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The selection panel reviewed around 5,500 applications before conducting interviews with 16 candidates

Ayodhya (UP): The selection committee is likely to submit three shortlisted names to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the post of the first CEO of the Ram temple, sources said on Tuesday.

The first CEO of the Ram temple is likely to be selected at a meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the residence of Ram Mandir Trust president Nritya Gopal Das at Maniramdas Chhawani.

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Selection committee members — retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and expert member Suresh Haware — have arrived in Ayodhya.

Names for three posts — two members and the general secretary — may also be announced on Wednesday. The vacancies arose following the death of Trust member Vimalendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, an alleged theft of offerings and the resignation of former general secretary of the temple trust, as mentioned in the source copy.

The temple trust is also likely to make an official announcement regarding the post of secretary at a meeting scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Wednesday. Jagdish Aphale is likely to be named the first secretary of the temple trust.

VHP international general secretary Bajrang Lal Bangda may also be included in the trust, sources said.

Temple trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri, when asked whether the new CEO would be named on Wednesday, said, “That is up to the trust to decide. I expect it to happen, but the Board of Trustees will decide whether to do it or not.”

Thanking the three-member selection panel, Giri said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had sought the guidance of the three distinguished individuals.

“We sought this guidance because we were in search of an excellent CEO to ensure the superior management of such a big, world-renowned temple. We turned to Justice (Pramod) Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and Suresh Haware. Working tirelessly and conducting interviews from morning till evening, they went through approximately 5,500 applications. First, they shortlisted 3,000; then 1,500; and finally, a group of 300 candidates emerged,” Giri said.

“Subsequently, they conducted in-person interviews with 16 individuals.”

On July 6, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust decided to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, as it admitted that the alleged theft of donations had harmed its image.

Vowing to restore the faith of devotees, the trust announced a three-member search committee for the CEO’s appointment, comprising retired Justice Pradeep Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and Suresh Haware, former chairman of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.