Ram Temple Trust to Select First CEO from Three Shortlisted Candidates

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is expected to appoint its first Chief Executive Officer on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, after a search committee shortlisted three candidates. The committee submitted the names to the Trust on Tuesday. The selection process follows a period of controversy involving alleged embezzlement of donations, which led to the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra on June 26.

The search committee consisted of retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General V.K. Chaturvedi, and scientist Dr. Suresh Haware. The panel screened 5,585 applications using a combination of AI tools, manual review, and a detailed scoring system via Google Forms. After virtual interactions with 108 individuals and in person interviews with 16 candidates in Ayodhya, the final three were selected. The candidates include individuals from both the government and private sectors.

The appointment is part of a broader administrative overhaul intended to strengthen oversight and restore public confidence. The Trust is also considering amendments to its bylaws to formally define the CEO's supervisory responsibilities and fund management powers. One source indicated that these amendments might also create a legal path for the return of Champat Rai to the Trust.

Reporting on the event differed slightly by political lean. The center left source framed the CEO appointment as a move to restore confidence following theft and irregularities. The center right source emphasized the transparency and fairness of the selection process while noting that the former general secretary had received a clean chit in the donation theft case.