Amid donation row, Ayodhya Ram temple to get first CEO

The Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday (July 13) initiated the process of appointing the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ram temple, inviting applications from eligible candidates. The last date for submission is July 18, with applications to be accepted till 4 pm, the trust said in a post on X.

The move comes amid allegations of financial irregularities involving temple donations, with the trust seeking to strengthen its administrative and financial systems. The CEO will be appointed on a three-year contractual term, extendable based on performance, and the position is based in Ayodhya.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible candidates must be between 50 and 70 years of age, possess a bachelor's degree, and have at least 20 years of managerial experience in a large public organisation, government department or company. Preference will be given to retired senior administrators and those with experience managing temples or Hindu religious institutions.

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Applicants must also be practising Hindus with working knowledge of Hindi and English.

According to the notification, the CEO will report to the trust's general secretary and oversee the trust's statutory, administrative and financial affairs, including regulatory compliance, asset management, transparency in financial transactions, security, pilgrim facilities and the smooth conduct of religious rituals and festivals.

Selection panel

Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra said the CEO would function under the trust's supervision and that there would be no government interference in the trust's functioning.

Also read: How Ayodhya Ram temple donation row put faith and transparency to test

Earlier this month, the trust constituted a three-member panel comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former NIT Raipur chairperson Suresh Haware to shortlist candidates for the post.

SC seeks status report

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations to submit a status report and issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on petitions seeking a fair and time-bound investigation.

The petitions, including those filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami, and RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, have sought a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, a forensic audit and a CAG audit of the trust's finances.

CBI probe

The plea alleged misappropriation, diversion and embezzlement of public donations meant for the Ram Temple and sought registration of a regular case followed by an independent, time-bound investigation.

Also Read: Ram Temple donation probe: Is SIT's credibility already in question?

The petitioners also argued that while an SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government is probing the allegations, it lacks the forensic expertise required for a complex financial investigation.

The petitioners argued that allegations of missing donations had shaken public confidence and questioned why the SIT began its inquiry without registering an FIR. The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted the three-member SIT on June 13 following complaints of alleged misappropriation of temple donations.