Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged theft of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has intensified its efforts to appoint its first full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a position intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and the day-to-day administration of the temple.
At a meeting held on July 6, the trust constituted a three-member panel comprising Justice (retired) Pramod Kohli, Lieutenant General (retired) Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former NIT Raipur chairperson Suresh Haware to identify suitable candidates for the post.
The committee has been tasked with completing the selection process within the next 30 days.
The eligibility requirements for the CEO are extensive. According to The Indian Express, quoting Haware, one of the foremost qualities expected of the successful candidate is “Ram ke prati shradhha ka bhav" (devotion towards Lord Ram).
People familiar with the matter told CNN-News18 that the trust is also looking for someone with substantial experience in overseeing the daily functioning of a major temple.
“Managing lakhs of pilgrims every day requires professional systems for crowd movement, disaster preparedness, procurement and human resources and, most of all, financial management. Simply keeping money in the account does not work, it has to be invested and used properly, more so for giving it back to society", Haware told The Indian Express.
When asked whether applicants would be required to have a particular professional qualification, sources said the committee was not limiting its search to any specific educational or career background, adding that the CEO would be selected irrespective of their “degree" or academic qualifications.
The trust has said the CEO will have a central role in introducing institutional safeguards and rebuilding public confidence following the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ayodhya temple.
Trust officials said the allegations have deeply affected the sentiments of devotees and that the proposed administrative changes are aimed at ensuring greater transparency in the management of donations received from pilgrims.
During the July 6 meeting, the trust also accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, both of whom stepped down from their positions after the donation theft allegations sparked widespread controversy.
The case centres on claims that valuable offerings made by devotees, including gold, silver and diamond ornaments, were allegedly replaced with counterfeit items, while cash donations were also reported to have been stolen.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently investigating the allegations, with investigators focusing on suspected security lapses at the temple's donation counting complex.
