Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed retired Indian Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram Temple, marking a significant step towards strengthening the administrative structure of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya.
The decision was taken during a crucial trust meeting held on Wednesday at Shri Maniramdas Chhawni in Ayodhya, where the appointment of the temple’s first CEO was among the key issues on the agenda. Mishra was selected from a shortlist of three candidates after an extensive selection process that saw 5,585 applications reviewed.
Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra is a former senior officer of the Indian Air Force and had commanded the Western Command during Operation Sindoor in May last year. His appointment brings an experienced military administrator into a key organisational position at the Ram temple.
Alongside the CEO appointment, the trust also inducted three new trustees, Delhi-based Mahesh Bhagchandka, a relative of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal; Ayodhya-based Madan Mohan Pandey; and Nirmala Yadav of Shikohabad.
The CEO selection was overseen by a three-member search committee comprising retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, former scientist Suresh Haware and former Justice Pramod Kohli. The committee submitted its final report to the trust on Tuesday after screening thousands of applications.
The latest appointments come roughly two months after controversy over alleged irregularities in the handling of temple donations and associated financial management systems. The new leadership structure is expected to provide greater administrative oversight as the Ram Mandir continues to manage large-scale religious and organisational responsibilities.
