Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra named first full-time CEO of Ayodhya Ram temple Trust

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the first full-time chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ram temple, nearly two months after beginning an extensive search for a professional administrator to oversee the institution.

Mishra, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district, served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades and retired on April 30, 2026, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the West Air Command. He had earlier served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).

His appointment comes at a crucial juncture for the Trust, which is seeking to strengthen its administrative and financial systems following the controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, while three office-bearers, including former Trust general secretary Champat Rai, stepped down.

The Trust had decided to create the full-time CEO post to professionalise the administration of the temple, which has moved from its construction phase into the management of a large religious institution handling devotees, donations, infrastructure, security and associated projects.

Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra had earlier stressed the need for a full-time CEO to bring greater professionalism, transparency and accountability to the temple's administration. The need for stronger professional oversight also gained prominence after the donation controversy exposed shortcomings in the existing administrative and financial systems.

Mishra was selected from a final panel of three candidates prepared by a three-member selection committee after assessing 5,585 applications. The panel comprised retired Justice Permod Kohli, Lt Gen (retd) Vishnukant Chaturvedi and nuclear scientist Dr Suresh Haware.

The selection process involved AI-enabled screening as well as manual assessment. Applications were scrutinised by teams in Delhi-NCR, Pune and Sambalpur before the field was narrowed to 16 finalists. The shortlisted candidates underwent online interactions on August 3 and 6, followed by face-to-face interviews in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12.

The Trust had set eligibility criteria of 50 to 70 years of age, at least 20 years of administrative experience and willingness to reside in Ayodhya. Candidates were also required to be practising Hindus with devotion to Lord Ram and proficiency in Hindi and English.

The Trust also appointed Mahesh Bhagchandka from Delhi, former additional advocate general Madan Mohan Pandey from Ayodhya and Nirmala Yadav as new trustees.

The CEO will be the highest executive authority within the Trust and will oversee its officers, functionaries, employees and staff. The appointee will be responsible for developing systems, procedures and operational practices suited to the scale of the institution, strengthening its organisational structure and ensuring efficient management of its present activities and future expansion.

The CEO will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements as well as the provisions of the Trust Deed.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Swami Kamalnayan Das, interim general secretary Dr Krishna Mohan, trustee Mahant Dinendra Das and treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri, among others.

The appointment marks a shift from the largely volunteer-driven administrative model that operated during the temple's construction. With the temple now attracting large numbers of devotees and substantial donations, the Trust has been under growing pressure to establish a more professional and clearly defined administrative structure.