Three candidates have been shortlisted for the first CEO of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust

Members of the high-level selection committee, including head of the search committee Justice (retd) Pramod Kohli, second right, along with officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust present the final recommendation report for the appointment of the temple’s first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. | Photo credit: PTI

New Delhi

The search committee set up to select the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJTKT) has selected three candidates and submitted their names to the Trust, the committee said on Tuesday (September 1, 2026).

The Trust, which oversees the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, is expected to select one of the three candidates at a meeting on Wednesday (September 2, 2026).

The decision to appoint a CEO came amid controversy over alleged thefts and irregularities in the handling of donations at the temple. After allegations of embezzlement, SRJTKT general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned.

On 6 July, the trust announced a major administrative overhaul, including the creation of a chief executive post. The move was aimed at strengthening administrative oversight and restoring confidence in the trust’s operation.

“The trust was also considering changes to its constitution that would formally establish the role of chief executive and clearly define oversight responsibilities, particularly in relation to fund management,” a source close to the selection committee said.

Selection process

A three-member committee consisting of retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lt. Gen. VK Chaturvedi and scientist Dr. Suresh Haware.

The selection process began in July after the commission finalized the eligibility criteria, which included experience in temple management and being a “devout Hindu”. Applications closed on 18 July, followed by online interviews in early August. Sixteen candidates were subsequently called to Ayodhya for face-to-face interactions on 11 and 12 August.

“A total of 5,585 applications were screened using AI-powered tools as well as manual review,” said Search Committee Secretary Sameer Panda. The evaluation was conducted by teams based in Delhi-NCR, Pune and Sambalpur in Odisha, Mr. Panda said.

The names of the shortlisted candidates have not been released, but sources said the panel includes candidates from both the government and private sectors. The three names were not placed in any order of preference.

The final report of the committee was presented in a meeting attended by Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri, Mahant Dinendra Das, Acting General Secretary Krishna Mohan and Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi.

Published – 01 Sep 2026 21:40 IST