Ram Temple CEO selection: Three names go to Trust today, announcement Wednesday
Synopsis
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is set to name its first-ever CEO as early as Wednesday, with a three-member panel submitting a shortlist to the Trust on Tuesday. The appointment — driven partly by a reported theft of offerings — comes alongside a broader restructuring that could fill three vacant Trust positions and induct new members in a single sitting.
Key Takeaways
The CEO selection committee submits three shortlisted names to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on 1 September .
The panel comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli , retired Lt Gen Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi , and expert member Suresh Hawade .
A series of key meetings begins at 2 pm on Wednesday at Maniramdas Cantonment , Ayodhya.
Jagdish Offley is reportedly the frontrunner to become the Trust's first secretary.
Three positions are vacant following the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra and the demise of Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra .
Yatindra Mishra and VHP International General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bangra are reportedly being considered for Trust membership.
The selection committee for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is set to submit three shortlisted candidates to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Tuesday, 1 September. The final report will be presented at the Ram Janmabhoomi premises, with trustees expected to formally announce the appointment during a key meeting on Wednesday.
The Selection Panel
Members of the CEO interview committee have arrived in Ayodhya to complete the process. The three-member panel comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, and expert member Suresh Hawade. The committee's recommendation will be placed before Trust members for a final decision.
Wednesday's Key Meeting
A series of meetings is scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Wednesday at Maniramdas Cantonment, the residence of the Ram Temple Trust chairman. Beyond the CEO appointment, the Trust is expected to officially name its first secretary — with Jagdish Offley reportedly the frontrunner for the role — and fill at least one other vacant position during the same sitting.
Vacancies That Triggered the Restructuring
The push to fill leadership positions follows a series of departures and losses within the Trust. Two senior posts fell vacant after the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, both former office-bearers of the Trust. A third position became vacant following the recent demise of Raja Ayodhya Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a Trust member. The appointment of a CEO also comes in the context of a reported theft of offerings at the Ram Temple, which had raised questions about administrative oversight.
New Inductions on the Cards
Wednesday's meeting may also see the induction of new members into the Trust. Yatindra Mishra, a literary scholar and son of the late Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, is reportedly being considered for membership. Bajrang Lal Bangra, International General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), may also be inducted, according to reports.
What to Watch
If confirmed, Wednesday's announcements will mark the most significant administrative overhaul of the Ram Temple Trust since the temple's consecration. The selection of a professional CEO is widely seen as a step toward institutionalising the temple's day-to-day management, particularly in the wake of the offerings theft controversy. All eyes will be on Maniramdas Cantonment as the Trust convenes for what could be a landmark sitting.
Point of View
And a CEO appointment alone may not close it — the Trust must also define the role's authority clearly relative to its own trustees. Filling three vacancies and potentially inducting two new members in a single meeting signals urgency, but rapid restructuring without transparent criteria risks replacing one accountability gap with another. How the Trust handles public disclosure of these appointments will itself be a test of the institutional credibility it is trying to build.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be the first CEO of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya?
The name of the first CEO of the Ram Temple has not yet been officially announced. The selection committee is submitting three shortlisted candidates to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on 1 September, with a formal announcement expected at the Wednesday meeting in Ayodhya.
Why is the Ram Temple appointing a CEO now?
The appointment comes partly in the wake of a reported theft of offerings at the Ram Temple, which raised questions about administrative oversight. It also follows the creation of vacancies due to the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra and the demise of Trust member Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra.
Who is on the CEO selection committee for the Ram Temple?
The three-member panel comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, and expert member Suresh Hawade. The committee conducted interviews and is submitting its final shortlist to the Trust.
What other decisions are expected at the Wednesday meeting?
Beyond the CEO appointment, the Trust is expected to name its first secretary — with Jagdish Offley reportedly the frontrunner — and fill additional vacant positions. New members, including literary scholar Yatindra Mishra and VHP International General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bangra, may also be inducted into the Trust.
Where will the Wednesday meeting take place?
The key meetings are scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Wednesday at Maniramdas Cantonment, the residence of the Ram Temple Trust chairman in Ayodhya.
