AYODHYA: The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is expected to appoint its first full-time chief executive officer (CEO) on Wednesday, a day after its search panel submitted a list of three shortlisted candidates following an extensive selection process involving thousands of applicants.
The appointment is likely to be made at a meeting of the Trust’s board at Maniramdas Chhawani, the residence of Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
The CEO’s appointment is among several key issues expected to come up for discussion. Trustees are also likely to consider filling three vacant positions on the board, amendments to the Trust deed, appointment of a spokesperson and other administrative and financial matters.
The CEO position was created amid heightened scrutiny of the Trust’s financial management following an alleged temple donation embezzlement case. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, while former general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and another office-bearer resigned following the controversy.
Most Trust members have arrived in Ayodhya for the meeting, while some are expected to participate virtually. Trustees have refrained from disclosing the names of the shortlisted candidates, maintaining that the final decision would be taken during the meeting.
Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das said the appointment would be made “unanimously”, adding that the “outcome would be announced only after the meeting concludes.”
The search committee, headed by retired Justice Pramod Kohli and comprising retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former scientist Suresh Haware, submitted its final recommendations to Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri on Tuesday.
Committee secretary Sameer Panda said three candidates were recommended after a detailed assessment of their leadership capabilities, management experience, integrity and vision needed to head an institution of national and international importance.
Sources said retired bureaucrats are among the frontrunners, although the identities of the three candidates have not been made public.
The selection exercise involved both AI-based screening and manual evaluation. Applications were assessed under a 600-mark framework, with 3,577 candidates taking part in the initial screening. Those securing at least 470 marks were shortlisted for virtual interactions, resulting in 108 candidates being assessed further. Sixteen candidates subsequently appeared for final interviews in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12.
The Trust is also expected to consider changes to its deed to define the CEO’s powers and responsibilities, formalise the proposed administrative structure and improve coordination among its committees.
Financial and administrative matters, including issues arising from the temple donation case and coordination of security arrangements with local authorities, are also likely to figure in the meeting.