The candidates appearing for the post of the first full-time CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust were posed questions about their religious practices, dietary choices and where they wear
the janeu (sacred thread), PTI sources said.
As many as eight candidates were interviewed on Tuesday for the top administrative position, with each interaction lasting between 40 and 50 minutes.
What Questions Were Posed To CEO Candidates
Are you a “hardline Hindu” or simply a believer? Do you wear a janeu (sacred thread), keep a braid and follow a vegetarian diet? These were among the questions posed to the CEO candidates, PTI sources said.
The candidates were also questioned about their consumption of alcohol, with the interview panel asking whether they were teetotallers, PTI sources said.
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The applicants were further asked about their adherence to Hindu religious customs, including whether they dress in accordance with religious practices.
But the interview was not limited to questions about personal faith. Candidates were also assessed on their leadership skills, involvement in religious and social activities, and their proposed vision and work plan for the Ram temple.
The selection process comes as the Trust moves to appoint its first full-time CEO following allegations of embezzlement of donations made towards the Ram temple.
18 Candidates Shortlisted From 5,200 Applicants
The Trust had shortlisted 18 candidates from around 5,200 applications for the post. Three former IAS officers, a former IPS officer and four retired military officers are among those in contention, sources said.
Former IPS officer Rajesh Pandey and former Jaunpur district magistrate Dinesh Chandra appeared for interviews on Tuesday. Former IAS officers Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Sameer Pandaya are also among the shortlisted candidates.
The list also includes former senior office-bearers associated with temples in South India.
The interview process, initially scheduled for two days, is now likely to continue for another four days. Only eight of the 18 shortlisted candidates were interviewed on the first day.
The interviews are being held away from public view at the Green House within the Ram temple complex. Candidates were first taken around the temple premises before their interactions with the selection panel began.
The three-member committee conducting the screening arrived in Ayodhya on Monday night. It will recommend three names to the Trust, which will take the final decision.
The panel comprises former Supreme Court judge Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lt Gen Vishnukant Chaturvedi and Suresh Haware.
Candidates Told Not To Speak To Media
The shortlisted candidates reached Ayodhya on Monday and stayed at locations identified by the Trust. Their travel arrangements were coordinated by the Trust, with candidates being transported separately from the airport.
“Each candidate had forwarded his arrival schedule at the Ayodhya airport. They were picked up by people appointed by the Trust. From the airport, they were taken to the different locations in separate vehicles,” a source said.
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The candidates were also directed to maintain confidentiality around the selection exercise.
“The candidates have been instructed not to interact with the media. After the interview is over, all of them will be taken back to the Ayodhya airport to board a flight to New Delhi. From Delhi, they will board flights to their respective destinations,” the source added.
The appointment of a full-time CEO comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Trust’s functioning following allegations of financial irregularities involving temple donations. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, while three Trust officials, including former general secretary Champat Rai, have resigned from their positions.
With inputs from PTI
