Ram temple trust to pick CEO, discuss deed amendment amid donation theft row
Ram Temple Trust to Pick CEO Amid Donation Row
Bharatmorning.com – The Ram temple trust to pick a permanent chief executive officer will convene its board on Wednesday in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for what insiders describe as the most consequential sitting since the shrine's consecration. Trustees are expected to finalize the appointment of a full-time CEO, vote on the first amendment to the trust's founding deed since February 2020, and address the fallout from allegations that tens of crores of rupees in devotee offerings were diverted before reaching designated bank accounts.
The timing is fraught. Multiple investigations, high-level resignations, and Supreme Court scrutiny have followed public claims that between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore in temple donations were siphoned off. The Wednesday agenda, spanning twelve items across two sessions, signals the trust's attempt to project institutional reform while those legal proceedings remain unresolved.
Two-Session Agenda and Leadership Vacuum
Trustees will meet from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in a first sitting, followed by a second session from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is the third formal convening of the board since the donation irregularity allegations entered public discourse in early June. The compressed schedule reflects the urgency surrounding both the leadership gap and the governance gaps the scandal has exposed.
The search for a permanent CEO began on July 6 through a dedicated screening committee. From an initial pool of 5,585 applications, the process narrowed to 111 candidates for online interviews, then to sixteen individuals summoned to Ayodhya for in-person assessments. Justice (retd) Pramod Kohli, who chaired the panel alongside Lt Gen (Retd) V K Chaturvedi and scientist-industrialist Suresh Haware, arrived in Ayodhya late on Monday and delivered a sealed envelope containing three shortlisted names to trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj. The final selection is expected to be deliberated and announced during the Wednesday sitting.
Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, has framed the CEO role as essential for introducing professional administrative discipline and financial transparency into an institution that has operated largely through informal, volunteer-driven channels. The amended deed will delineate the executive's authority explicitly, including a provision barring government interference in day-to-day operations. The appointee will report to the trust's general secretary and will architect long-term strategic plans for a site that draws millions of pilgrims annually.
Deed Amendment and Structural Safeguards
Alongside the leadership decision, trustees will consider codifying the CEO's powers, clarifying reporting lines, and introducing structural safeguards absent from the original 2020 instrument. Prior proceedings are expected to be formally confirmed before the amendment motion is put to a vote. Also on the agenda is the creation of a permanent security coordination committee under the general secretary's oversight—a body that had no formal existence before the current controversy. An audited income-and-expenditure report for fiscal year 2025-26 will be tabled, alongside decisions previously taken by the trust's religious, finance, and construction committees.
The controversy erupted on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan Pandey, known by his moniker "Pawan," publicly alleged the diversion of temple offerings. Within days, on June 13, formal investigations were initiated, setting in motion the chain of resignations and judicial proceedings that now frame the trust's governance agenda.
For the Ram temple trust to pick its next executive is not merely an administrative exercise; it is a public accountability moment. The Wednesday outcome will determine whether the institution can restore donor confidence or whether the scandal's aftershocks continue to erode trust in one of India's most visited religious sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the new CEO be announced? The final selection among the three shortlisted candidates is expected to be deliberated and publicly announced during the Wednesday board sitting in Ayodhya.
What does the deed amendment change? The proposed amendment, the first since the trust was constituted in February 2020, is expected to codify the CEO's powers, clarify reporting lines to the general secretary, and introduce structural safeguards—including an explicit bar on government interference in daily operations.
How many applicants were considered for the CEO role? The screening committee reviewed 5,585 applications, narrowed the field to 111 for online interviews, and ultimately shortlisted three candidates after in-person assessments of sixteen finalists.
What triggered the donation controversy? On June 7, SP leader Tej Narayan Pandey alleged that ₹5–7.5 crore in temple offerings had been diverted. Formal investigations followed within days, leading to resignations at senior trust levels and Supreme Court scrutiny.