Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Appointed First Full-Time CEO of Ram Temple Trust

New CEO Appointed

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram temple in Ayodhya, has appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first full-time chief executive officer. The decision was announced on Wednesday after a Trust meeting in Ayodhya, marking a significant step in the institution's move toward professional management.

Mishra, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district, served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades. According to The New Indian Express, he retired on April 30, 2026, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the West Air Command, and previously held the position of Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). NewsX reports that he was commissioned into the IAF in December 1986 and retired in May 2026, with over 38 years of service. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Air Force Test Pilots School, the Air Command and Staff College, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, and has received several honours including the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Trust members, in a press release following the appointment, praised Mishra's lengthy and distinguished military career, expressing confidence that his leadership experience would now serve the institution in a new capacity, as reported by Lokmat Times.

Selection Process

Mishra was chosen from a shortlist of three candidates, drawn from a pool of 5,585 applications, according to multiple reports. The selection was overseen by a three-member committee comprising retired Justice Permod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and nuclear scientist Dr. Suresh Haware, as reported by The New Indian Express and NewsX.

The selection process combined AI-enabled screening with manual assessment, as detailed by The New Indian Express and Times Now. Applications were reviewed by teams in Delhi-NCR, Pune, and Sambalpur, narrowing the field to 16 finalists. Candidates underwent virtual interactions on August 3 and 6, followed by face-to-face interviews in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12, according to The New Indian Express. Times Now reported that a 600-mark evaluation framework was used, with 3,577 candidates participating in the initial assessment, and those scoring 470 marks or above were shortlisted. The eligibility criteria included age between 50 and 70, at least 20 years of administrative experience, willingness to reside in Ayodhya, and proficiency in Hindi and English, as stated by The New Indian Express.

A trust official told PTI that three highly qualified professionals were recommended following the selection process, and candidates were assessed on institutional leadership, management expertise, integrity, and vision, according to NewsX.

Context of the Appointment

The appointment comes amid controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, and the former general secretary of the Trust, Champat Rai, resigned, as reported by The New Indian Express, NewsX, and Times Now. The Trust decided to create the full-time CEO post to professionalise its administration, which has moved from the construction phase to managing a large religious institution, according to The New Indian Express. Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra had stressed the need for a full-time CEO to improve professionalism, transparency, and accountability.

The CEO will serve as the highest executive authority within the Trust, overseeing officers, functionaries, employees, and staff, as multiple reports confirm. Times Now reported that the Trust meeting is also expected to consider amendments to the Trust deed to clearly define the CEO's powers and responsibilities.

Other Appointments

The Trust also made several other appointments. Swami Govind Dev Giri was elevated to the position of General Secretary, according to Lokmat Times. Mahesh Bhagchandka, Madan Mohan Pandey, and Nirmala Yadav were appointed as new trustees, filling three vacant positions, as reported by Lokmat Times and The New Indian Express.

Bhagchandka is a 68-year-old businessman and social worker, and the author of the book 'Hindutva Ke Purodha', according to Lokmat Times. Pandey is a 74-year-old law graduate and advocate who represented Shri Ram Lalla Virajman in the High Court and Supreme Court from 1990 to 2019, as reported by Lokmat Times. Yadav is a 66-year-old educationist with a PhD in Hindi and Sanskrit, according to the same source.

Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Swami Kamalanayan Das, interim general secretary Dr. Krishna Mohan, trustee Mahant Dinendra Das, and treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri were present at the meeting, as reported by The New Indian Express and Times Now. Kamalanayan Das said ahead of the meeting that his priority was the smooth functioning of the temple, according to Times Now.

Trust Meeting and Future Plans

The Trust meeting in Ayodhya also discussed filling three vacant trustee posts, as reported by Times Now. The meeting is expected to consider amendments to the Trust deed, appointment of a press spokesperson, and other administrative matters, according to Times Now. The Trust's financial and administrative affairs, including matters arising from the donation case, are also expected to be taken up, as stated by Times Now.