Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the first full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The appointment comes at a time when the temple trust is facing questions over alleged irregularities in the handling of temple donations.
Mishra, who is from Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades. He retired on April 30, 2026, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command. Before that, he served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).
The Trust selected Mishra from a shortlist of three candidates prepared after receiving 5,585 applications. A three-member selection committee, comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Lieutenant General (retd) Vishnukant Chaturvedi and nuclear scientist Dr Suresh Haware, reviewed the applications and shortlisted the candidates.
Along with the appointment of Mishra, the Trust also announced the appointment of three new trustees — Mahesh Bhagchandka from Delhi, former additional advocate general Madan Mohan Pandey from Ayodhya and Nirmala Yadav.
The decision to appoint a professional CEO is being seen as an attempt to strengthen the administrative structure of the temple and improve transparency. The Trust has been under scrutiny following allegations of embezzlement involving temple donations. The controversy resulted in the arrest of eight people and also led to the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary in June.
The need for a full-time CEO had earlier been highlighted by Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee. He had said that professional management was important for an institution of the scale and public importance of the Ram temple.
According to the Trust, the new CEO will be responsible for developing systems, procedures and operational practices suited to the organisation. The CEO will also oversee the administrative structure and coordinate the work of officers, employees and other functionaries.
The officer will have overall responsibility for the efficient management of the Trust's present activities as well as its future development. Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and the Trust Deed will also be part of the role.
The appointment was made at a meeting attended by senior Trust members, including president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Swami Kamalnayan Das, interim general secretary Dr Krishna Mohan, trustee Mahant Dinendra Das and treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri.
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