Selection committee to present shortlist

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to receive the shortlist of candidates for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Tuesday, as the selection committee finalises its recommendations. According to Lokmat Times, the committee will submit the names of three shortlisted candidates to the Trust, with the final report to be handed over at the Ram Janmabhoomi premises. The committee members have arrived in Ayodhya for the deliberations.

The panel, which conducted the interviews, comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, and expert member Suresh Hawade, as reported by Lokmat Times.

Six candidates, three principal and three reserves

The Times of India reports that the search committee will present a shortlist of six candidates to Trust members, consisting of three principal candidates and three reserve names. The three principal candidates will not be ranked in any order of preference, according to a senior source associated with the process. The source, quoted by The Times of India, said, "None of the three names will be treated as priority one, two, or three. All three are considered equally suitable for the role. The Trust will decide whom it wants to appoint after interacting with them."

The candidates were shortlisted based on their national-level achievements, professional excellence, and ability to understand the religious and cultural significance of the Ram Temple. The same source noted that the candidates "have handled assignments of national importance and demonstrated professional achievements at either the national or international level." Of the six finalists, five have held government positions and one comes from the private sector, according to The Times of India.

The recruitment process, as detailed by The Times of India, began with 5,585 applications, of which 3,877 candidates submitted detailed CVs. After assessment of 1,580 applications, 111 candidates were shortlisted for online interactions, and 16 finalists had face-to-face interactions before the final six were selected.

The Times of India also reported that the Trust is unlikely to announce the appointment immediately after Tuesday's deliberations, as discussions on compensation and remuneration packages have yet to take place. A formal declaration may be uncertain and possibly delayed until September 2.

Expected timeline and other appointments

Lokmat Times reports that the trustees are likely to announce the name of the temple's first CEO during a meeting on Wednesday, which is expected to take place at the residence of the Trust chairman. The series of meetings will begin at 2 pm on Wednesday. The Trust is also expected to make an official announcement regarding the appointment of its secretary, with Jagdish Offley likely to become the first secretary.

The appointment of the CEO comes in the wake of the reported theft of offerings at the Ram Temple, as noted by Lokmat Times. The Trust is also likely to fill another vacant official position during the meeting. Two positions became vacant following the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, who served as senior office-bearers of the Trust. Another position has remained vacant following the demise of Raja Ayodhya Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a member of the Ram Mandir Trust.

The names for all three positions could be officially announced on Wednesday, according to Lokmat Times. Additionally, literary connoisseur Yatindra Mishra, son of Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, is likely to be inducted into the Ram Mandir Trust, as is Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bangra.