Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust nears final selection for first full-time CEO

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has entered the final stages of selecting its first full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Ayodhya. Following a massive pool of over 5,200 applicants, a shortlist of approximately 16 to 18 candidates was selected for personal interviews. The candidate pool includes former IAS and IPS officers, retired military personnel, and professionals from the corporate and education sectors.

The selection process, overseen by a three-member committee including retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Dr. Suresh Havare, and retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi, involved rigorous questioning. Beyond administrative expertise and crowd management skills, candidates faced inquiries regarding their religious practices and lifestyle. Reported questions included whether candidates wear a sacred thread (janeu), keep a tuft of hair (shikha), follow a vegetarian diet, consume alcohol, or consider themselves “hardline Hindus.”

The process has faced some scrutiny. Some applicants have questioned the transparency of the shortlisting criteria, while members of the local saint community (sant samaj) have expressed concerns that appointing a CEO may represent a “governmentization” of the temple, potentially moving away from traditional religious management systems toward a corporate model.