India
oi-Prakash KL
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to name its first permanent Chief Executive Officer, with a crucial meeting of the Trust’s governing body scheduled for Wednesday in Ayodhya.
The decision comes after a weeks-long selection process that attracted applications from across the country as the Trust looks to streamline the administrative management of the Ram Temple complex.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will appoint its first permanent CEO in Ayodhya on Wednesday from a final shortlist of three candidates, selected by a search committee after rigorous vetting of over 5,500 applications.
A three-member search committee constituted to identify a suitable candidate has submitted a final shortlist of three names to the Trust. The panel, comprising retired High Court Justice Pramod Kohli, former Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi and industrialist Suresh Haware, arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week to present its recommendations following a multi-stage vetting process.
The committee’s recommendation is expected to carry significant weight, although the final decision will be taken collectively by the Trust members during Wednesday’s meeting.
Among the names reportedly under consideration is retired Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer Rajesh Pandey. He has reportedly undergone two rounds of in-person interviews with the panel and is being considered for the post, according to a report in News18.
Former IAS officer Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and former Bihar Director General of Police Paresh Saxena are the other contenders.
The search for the CEO attracted significant interest, with the Trust receiving 5,585 applications. The applicants included serving and retired bureaucrats from the IAS and IPS cadres, retired military officers and executives from the non-profit sector.
To assess the large applicant pool, the search committee introduced a 600-point evaluation system covering eligibility, administrative experience and institutional capabilities. An online questionnaire was sent to all applicants, of whom 3,577 completed it within the stipulated timeframe.
A total of 108 candidates who scored 470 or more points were shortlisted for the next stage. The panel then conducted virtual interviews with all 108 candidates over four days, narrowing the field to 17 candidates who were invited for face-to-face interactions in Ayodhya, the report said.
One candidate subsequently withdrew due to a personal emergency, while the remaining 16 appeared for in-person interviews.
During the final rounds, the committee assessed candidates on leadership capabilities, strategic vision, operational preparedness and their understanding of the logistical and administrative requirements involved in managing the Ram Temple complex.
