Ram Temple CEO Selection Nears Final Stage; Three UP Candidates Shortlisted
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has shortlisted three candidates for the temple’s first CEO, with the final appointment expected to be decided at a key meeting in Ayodhya.
The selection process for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has entered its final phase, with three candidates shortlisted for the top administrative position. All three candidates are from Uttar Pradesh, according to sources familiar with the process.
The Trust is expected to choose one of the three candidates at a meeting scheduled at the residence of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das at Maniramdas Chhavani in Ayodhya. One of the shortlisted candidates is reportedly a retired military officer.
The candidates have professional experience across different parts of the country and have worked with government institutions and on major projects. Despite earlier speculation that a retired bureaucrat or former police officer could be selected, none of the three shortlisted candidates belongs to either category.
Trust members have reportedly reviewed the credentials of the candidates and expressed satisfaction with their professional experience and suitability for the role. The Trust is expected to select one candidate and subsequently discuss the remuneration and other terms before formally announcing the appointment.
What Will The Ram Temple CEO Handle?
The CEO will be responsible for overseeing the administrative functioning of the Trust, including pilgrim facilities, arrangements during major religious events and coordination with government agencies and other stakeholders associated with the temple complex.
The recruitment process was extensive, beginning with 5,585 applications. After several rounds of screening and online interactions, 16 finalists participated in face-to-face meetings in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12 before the final panel was prepared.
The search committee consisted of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lt Gen Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi and former Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust chairperson and retired nuclear scientist Suresh Haware.
Justice Kohli said the committee had selected the three candidates after a detailed assessment, while the final decision would rest with the Trust. “Among the three people we have selected, the Trust will decide on one person for the CEO’s post. I believe that with Lord Ram’s blessings, the entire process will be completed smoothly,” he mentioned.
Search committee secretary Sameer Panda said the shortlisted candidates possess the leadership, management expertise, integrity and vision required to handle an institution of national and international significance. The committee has submitted its final report to the Trust, with the official appointment announcement expected after the selection process is completed.