Ram Temple Trust meets in Ayodhya to pick first CEO from 3 shortlisted names
Synopsis
The Ram Temple Trust's search for its first CEO drew over 5,585 applications, was whittled down through a 600-mark scoring system, and has now produced three finalists. Wednesday's Ayodhya meeting — covering the CEO post and a broader committee restructuring — is the most consequential governance decision the Trust has taken since the temple's consecration.
Key Takeaways
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held a two-session meeting at Maniram Das Chhawani, Ayodhya on 2 September to finalise its first CEO appointment .
A three-member search committee comprising Lt Gen Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi (retd) , Suresh Haware , and former Justice Pramod Kohli submitted 3 shortlisted names to the Trust on Tuesday.
The selection process received 5,585 applications between 11–18 July ; 3,570 candidates completed a 600-mark Google Form .
108 candidates scoring 470+ marks were virtually interviewed; 16 of 17 shortlisted attended in-person interviews at Ayodhya Dham.
Trust Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj said he is hopeful of an announcement but deferred the final call to the Trust board.
The meeting also covered restructuring of the Trust's managing, construction, finance, and religious committees.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust convened a high-stakes meeting in Ayodhya on Wednesday, 2 September to finalise the appointment of its first-ever Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and deliberate on other senior trustee-level positions, marking a pivotal step in the temple body's administrative overhaul.
Key Developments
The meeting, held at Maniram Das Chhawani, was structured across two sessions and was expected to cover the restructuring of the Trust's managing, construction, finance, and religious committees. It followed a day after a three-member search committee submitted its recommendations — shortlisting three names for the inaugural CEO role — to the Trust board on Tuesday.
The Search Process
The search committee comprised Lt General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi (retd), former scientist Suresh Haware, and former Justice Pramod Kohli. Describing the rigorous selection process, Justice Kohli (retd) told reporters that the panel received 5,585 applications between 11 and 18 July. A structured Google Form worth 600 marks was then sent to all candidates, of whom 3,570 responded. Those scoring above 60 per cent were shortlisted further.
From that pool, 108 candidates who scored 470 marks or above out of 600 were identified. The committee conducted virtual interactions with all 108 over four days, before inviting 17 candidates for in-person interviews at Ayodhya Dham, of whom 16 attended. The final three names were chosen on the basis of vision, understanding of issues, and devotion to Lord Ram, according to Justice Kohli.
'It is such a kind of work in which transparency and fairness are extremely required,' he said.
What the Trust Said
Trust Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj thanked the search committee for their 'tireless work' and confirmed the recommendations would be placed before the Trust board. When asked whether the CEO's name would be announced on Wednesday, he struck a cautious note. 'I am hopeful that the announcement should be made; however, the final decision depends on the Trust,' he said.
Why It Matters
The appointment of a CEO represents the first major professionalisation of the Ram Temple's administrative structure since the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted in February 2020 following the Supreme Court's landmark verdict. With the temple open to pilgrims and footfall rising sharply, the Trust is under increasing pressure to establish a formal management framework to handle operations, finances, and religious programming at scale. The restructuring of multiple committees alongside the CEO appointment signals a broader institutional consolidation.
Point of View
Scored process from over 5,500 applicants — is a significant institutional signal: the body is moving from a consecration-era committee model toward a formal management structure. But the real governance test begins after the appointment. The Trust oversees one of India's highest-footfall religious sites, with complex financial, construction, and religious programming demands. Whether the incoming CEO will have genuine operational authority or function as a figurehead within a trustee-dominated hierarchy remains the critical unanswered question — and one that mainstream coverage has largely glossed over.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple Trust CEO appointment about?
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is appointing its first-ever Chief Executive Officer to professionally manage the Ram Temple's operations in Ayodhya. A three-member search committee has shortlisted three candidates from over 5,585 applicants and submitted its recommendations to the Trust board.
Who is on the search committee for the Ram Temple CEO?
The search committee comprises Lt General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi (retd), former scientist Suresh Haware, and former Justice Pramod Kohli. The panel conducted a multi-stage selection process spanning written scoring, virtual interviews, and in-person interactions at Ayodhya Dham.
How were the CEO candidates selected?
The committee received 5,585 applications between 11 and 18 July. Candidates completed a 600-mark Google Form; those scoring above 60 per cent were advanced. From 108 candidates who scored 470 or above, 17 were called for physical interviews at Ayodhya Dham, of whom 16 attended. Three finalists were recommended on the basis of vision, understanding of issues, and devotion to Lord Ram.
Will the CEO's name be announced after Wednesday's meeting?
Trust Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj said he is hopeful an announcement will be made but clarified that the final decision rests with the Trust board. No name has been officially confirmed yet.
What else was discussed at the Ayodhya Trust meeting?
Beyond the CEO appointment, the meeting was expected to address restructuring of the Trust's managing, construction, finance, and religious committees, signalling a broader administrative overhaul of the temple body.
