The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday, 14 September 2026 issued a formal clarification defending the selection process for its first-ever Chief Executive Officer, pushing back against media reports that questioned the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the inaugural CEO of the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya. The statement, issued under the name of Swami Govinddev Giri, General Secretary of the Trust, said claims that Mishra did not participate in the interview rounds were 'factually incorrect.'

How the Selection Process Unfolded

According to the Trust, a dedicated Search Committee was constituted on 6 July 2026 to oversee the CEO search. The committee employed a combination of artificial intelligence-assisted screening and manual expert evaluation to process 5,585 applications received for the post. Evaluations were conducted across three cities — Delhi NCR, Pune, and Sambalpur — in what the Trust described as a 'multi-tiered evaluation' framework.

The process ultimately shortlisted 16 candidates, who were then invited for face-to-face interactions at Ayodhya on 11 and 12 August 2026. Air Marshal Mishra, the Trust clarified, participated during the first half of the first day of these in-person sessions.

Air Marshal Mishra's Selection and the Final Shortlist

The Search Committee's final report recommended three candidates: Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra (Retd), Sanjay Pratapsinh Vishwas Rao, and Shruti Bharadwaj. Mishra emerged as the top-ranked choice and was subsequently appointed as the first CEO of the Ram Mandir complex. The Trust said his inclusion among the final three constitutes 'documentary proof of his participation, evaluation, and merit-based selection.'

The Trust added that the names of all three finalists were formally announced through media interactions, confirming that the evaluation was complete before the appointment was made.

Trust Asserts Institutional Governance Standards

Addressing broader concerns about institutional accountability, the Trust's statement stressed that the selection adhered to 'the highest standards of institutional governance and transparency.' It noted that every stage of the process was documented and that the identities of all finalists were formally recorded at Ayodhya. The Trust pledged to continue providing factual information to address any further questions regarding the appointment.

Notably, the use of AI-assisted screening for a religious institution of this scale marks an unusual step — one the Trust appears to be highlighting as a marker of modernity and rigor in its governance approach. The Ram Mandir complex, which was consecrated in January 2024, has been managed under intense public and institutional scrutiny since its opening.

What Comes Next

With the CEO now formally in place, the Trust is expected to shift focus to long-term administrative and developmental planning for the Ayodhya complex, which draws millions of pilgrims annually. Whether the clarification fully settles the media controversy around the appointment remains to be seen, though the Trust's detailed, document-backed rebuttal signals a proactive approach to institutional communications going forward.