The selection process for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust moved into its decisive phase on Tuesday, with eight former senior officials appearing for interviews in Ayodhya.
Those interviewed on the first day included three former IAS officers, one former IPS officer, and four former military officers, according to sources. Among the prominent names were former Uttar Pradesh IPS officer Rajesh Pandey, who was known as an “encounter specialist”, and former Jaunpur District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra.
The interview process is being conducted for the appointment of the temple trust’s first CEO, a post created as the scale and complexity of the Ram Mandir’s administration continue to expand.
Former Ayodhya DM also among prominent contenders
Former
Ayodhya District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra is also among the 18 shortlisted candidates and has appeared before the selection panel as part of the process. His candidature is particularly significant because of his previous experience of administering Ayodhya and handling the city’s religious gatherings, security requirements, and large-scale movement of devotees.
Mishra has also served as district magistrate in other major Uttar Pradesh districts, including Lucknow and Varanasi, giving him extensive administrative experience.
Rajesh Pandey’s candidature has attracted attention because of his policing background. The former IPS officer was associated with high-profile anti-crime operations in Uttar Pradesh and came to be known as an “encounter specialist”. He is currently also associated with the trust of the historic Aliganj Hanuman Temple in Lucknow, according to reports.
18 candidates shortlisted from over 5,300 applications
The eight officers interviewed on Tuesday are part of a larger pool of 18 candidates shortlisted from more than 5,300 applications received from across the country for the newly created post.
The names of most of the shortlisted candidates have not been made public. Apart from Rajesh Pandey and Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, only a few names have emerged publicly during the selection process.
The interviews are being conducted over multiple days, with candidates being questioned for around one to two hours. The panel is assessing their administrative and professional experience, previous assignments, leadership capabilities, and experience in handling large institutions.
Questions go beyond administrative experience
The selection process is not restricted to the candidates’ official careers.
The panel is also examining their understanding of the responsibilities associated with the Ram Mandir, their personal and family backgrounds, their leadership qualities, and their understanding of the temple’s religious significance.
Candidates are being assessed on whether they can manage an institution that now attracts a massive number of devotees and involves coordination with multiple government agencies, security establishments, and administrative bodies.
Army officers in the race
The presence of four former military officers among the eight candidates interviewed on the first day is also significant.
The CEO’s responsibilities are expected to involve not only administrative management but also large-scale crowd management, security coordination, disaster preparedness, infrastructure management, and coordination with several agencies.
The military background of some candidates could therefore be relevant to the Trust’s search for someone capable of managing a complex, high-footfall religious institution.
Three names to be sent to the Trust
The selection committee will eventually narrow the 18 candidates down to three names.
These three names will then be forwarded to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Trust will conduct its own assessment and select one candidate as the first CEO of the Ram Mandir administration.
The Trust is expected to take up the final selection at its proposed September 2 meeting.
Who is conducting the interviews?
The interviews are being conducted by a three-member selection panel comprising former Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and administrator-industrialist Suresh Haware, former chairman of the Shirdi Sai Baba Trust.
The composition of the panel itself reflects the diverse requirements of the post—judicial and institutional oversight, security and operational management, and experience in running a major religious trust.
Why the CEO post matters
The appointment will create a new layer of professional executive management for the Ram Mandir.
The CEO is expected to oversee the temple’s day-to-day administration, coordination with government agencies, personnel, finances, infrastructure, devotee facilities, and other operational matters.
The appointment comes at a time when the temple has evolved from a construction project into a massive religious and public institution, with the number of devotees visiting Ayodhya increasing substantially.
The CEO will therefore have to combine administrative experience, institutional management, financial oversight, security coordination, and an understanding of the religious character of the temple.
For now, the contest remains open among the 18 shortlisted candidates. But after Tuesday’s first round of interviews—featuring former IAS, IPS, and military officers—the race has begun to narrow.
