Ram Temple Trust Defers CEO Appointment by a Month, Interim Secretary to Take Charge

AYODHYA, Jul 22: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has postponed the appointment of its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by one month after an overwhelming response to the recruitment process. With more than 5,200 applications received, the Trust has decided to allow the selection committee additional time to complete the scrutiny while appointing an interim secretary to handle the temple’s expanding administrative responsibilities.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Trust’s board of trustees on Wednesday, where members reviewed several important matters, including preparations for the ongoing Shravan pilgrimage season, governance issues, financial management and security arrangements at the Ram Temple complex.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the selection panel requested extra time because of the exceptionally large number of applications for the CEO’s post.

According to him, the Trust approved the committee’s request to ensure that every application is examined carefully before a final decision is made. The appointment is now expected to be finalised after the extended evaluation period.

To strengthen the temple’s religious administration, the Trust also resolved to establish a permanent religious affairs committee. The body will consist of nine eminent saints, including five representatives from Ayodhya and four from other regions, and will oversee religious ceremonies and ensure adherence to established traditions.

Another major decision taken during the meeting was the creation of a permanent training institute for priests. The institute will provide structured training to aspiring priests, who will receive certification from the Ram Temple Trust after completing the programme. The initiative aims to maintain uniformity and authenticity in temple rituals and religious practices.

The board, however, deferred a decision on filling three vacant trustee positions. Officials said discussions on these appointments are continuing and are likely to be concluded during the Trust’s next meeting scheduled for September 2.

Acting General Secretary Krishna Mohan informed the media that the board could not deliberate on the final report prepared by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating alleged irregularities in the counting of devotees’ donations because the report had not yet been officially placed before the Trust.

Nevertheless, trustees reviewed the legal developments surrounding the matter, including proceedings before the Supreme Court related to petitions concerning the alleged embezzlement of temple offerings.

The board also examined the temple’s security infrastructure, particularly the CCTV surveillance network covering sensitive locations such as the donation counting area. Trustees expressed satisfaction with the existing monitoring mechanism, noting that security agencies have comprehensive access to surveillance footage across the temple premises.

The memorandum of understanding with the State Bank of India for counting donations also came under review. Trustees expressed concern over the bank’s handling of issues that surfaced following allegations of financial irregularities and directed the Trust’s finance committee to reassess its working relationship with the bank. The committee has also been asked to review the standard operating procedures governing donation management before recommending future action.

Meanwhile, the Trust reaffirmed that arrangements with the Reserve Bank of India’s mint for testing the purity and quantity of gold and silver offerings would continue without interruption, ensuring transparency in handling valuable donations.

To improve public communication, the board approved the appointment of an official spokesperson who will provide regular updates regarding the Trust’s decisions, temple activities and other important developments.

The religious committee was also reconstituted under the chairmanship of Treasurer Govind Dev Giri. The panel includes several distinguished saints and religious leaders who will guide the conduct of temple rituals and preserve the spiritual traditions associated with the Ram Temple.

Responding to reports suggesting a decline in pilgrim numbers, Krishna Mohan rejected such claims, stating that the flow of devotees has remained steady. He said the unwavering faith of millions of devotees from across India and abroad continues to be reflected in the consistent number of visitors to the temple.

The trustees also expressed gratitude to the saint community, devotees and residents of the Awadh region for their continued support and confidence in the Trust’s work.

The meeting took place amid continuing scrutiny over alleged misappropriation of donations offered at the Ram Temple. The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a Special Investigation Team on June 13 to probe the allegations. Based on its preliminary findings, an FIR was registered on June 25 and eight individuals were arrested in connection with the case.

Investigators recovered substantial amounts of cash, gold, silver, foreign currency and a donation box labelled ‘Ramrajya Kosh’ from the accused during the investigation. The SIT has since submitted its final report before the Supreme Court, while the Trust continues to strengthen its administrative, financial and security systems to reinforce transparency and maintain public confidence.