Ayodhya Ram Temple To Get CEO: 3 Reasons Why It May Help With Matters Of Faith & Trust

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 12:17 IST

The appointment of a CEO by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust marks a shift towards professional management, strict financial audit practices and systemic transparency

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday decided to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as it admitted that the alleged donation theft has harmed its image. Vowing to restore the faith of devotees, the Trust announced a three-member search committee for the CEO comprising retired Justice Pradeep Kohli, Lt General (retd) Vishnukant Chaturvedi**,** and Suresh Haware, former chairman of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

How will it change the daily workings at the temple? News18 explains.

RAM TEMPLE, DONATION SCAM & CHANGES GALORE

Speaking to reporters in Ayodhya after a three-hour meeting to discuss the fallout from the alleged donation embezzlement, treasurer of the Trust Govind Dev Giri said the members of the search panel “will interview candidates and give us three names to choose from". Before the Trust meeting, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had favoured a CEO to manage the affairs of the Trust.

Giri described the theft from the temple’s donation boxes as a matter of “deep pain and embarrassment" for the Trust, saying the controversy had cast a shadow over a temple built after a centuries-long struggle and countless sacrifices. Besides implementing the recommendations of the SIT, the Trust will also seek independent advice from experts to establish a more robust, efficient and transparent administrative framework that could serve as a model for temple management.

Referring to the investigation, the Trust said it had sought a high-level SIT probe from the Uttar Pradesh government immediately after preliminary inquiries into the alleged irregularities.

The Trust, which named Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary after accepting the resignations of Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra, also announced that devotees can verify the valuable articles donated by them to the shrine.

It said the SIT’s initial report had identified eight persons against whom prima facie evidence was found, following which police cases were registered and arrests were made. The Trust reiterated that anyone found guilty should face the strictest legal action.

Briefing reporters in Delhi after the meeting of the Trust in Ayodhya, VHP president Alok Kumar said the trustees had expressed concern over the alleged theft of donations but were satisfied that the Trust itself sought the SIT probe as soon as the matter came to its notice.

HOW WILL A CEO CHANGE THINGS AT THE TEMPLE?

The appointment of a chief executive officer (CEO) by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust marks a major shift toward professional management, strict financial audit practices, and systemic transparency. This decision comes as a direct response to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged donation embezzlement, which led to the high-profile resignations of top Trust officials, including General Secretary Champat Rai.

The introduction of a professional CEO structure brings several key transformations:

1. Enhanced Financial Transparency & Audit Controls

The CEO will oversee strict donation-handling overhauls. Early measures proposed include requiring in-house cash counters to wear pocketless uniforms and upgrading digital surveillance during the counting process.

Instead of outsourced tracking, the CEO will implement an in-house donation counting and verification team consisting of retired bankers, management graduates, and chartered accountants. Devotees will also have access to verification systems for valuable items they donate.

Strict oversight: Financial statements will face rigorous corporate-level auditing to plug operational loopholes exposed by the SIT.

2. Transition to Professional Administration

Management will shift from an informal group of religious and socio-political figures to an executive-style administration run by a qualified professional (likely a retired senior IAS officer or an institutional administrator).

Day-to-day coordination for an average of 80,000 daily visitors will be systematically streamlined, covering crowd management, VIP entries, cleanliness, and long-term temple town development.

Administrative reforms are tied to introducing government-grade facilities, medical benefits and structured leave policies for the temple priests and internal staff.

3. Institutional Balance

Right-wing bodies like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have made it clear that while they endorse a professional CEO, the individual must directly report to the Trust board and not function as an active government bureaucrat, ensuring the shrine remains independent of government control.

Because the original Trust deeds did not account for such a corporate executive structure, the Trust’s legal frameworks and bylaws are being amended to clearly define the CEO’s powers and responsibilities vis-à-vis those of the board of trustees.

With PTI inputs

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Manjiri Joshi

At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci...Read More

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