India
-Madhuri Adnal
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has advanced its next meeting to July 6, bringing forward a discussion that could reshape the way the Ram temple body functions in Ayodhya. The meeting, earlier scheduled for July 11, is expected to take up the positions of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, after treasurer Govind Dev Giri confirmed on June 27 that both had tendered their resignations.
All 14 members of the Trust have been asked to remain available for the meeting. The change in schedule has added to the significance of the gathering, as members are also expected to discuss transparency, internal supervision and visitor management at the Ram temple complex. The Trust is headed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the 87-year-old saint from Ayodhya.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust advanced its July 6 meeting to discuss the expected resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, along with improving transparency, internal supervision, and visitor management at the Ayodhya temple.
Ram Janmabhoomi Trust meeting may review resignations
According to people aware of the matter, the July 6 meeting is likely to decide the future role of Rai and Mishra in the Trust. Rai has been among the most visible office-bearers of the temple body, while Mishra has also been closely associated with the temple-related work in Ayodhya. Any decision on their resignations would be watched closely by devotees, religious leaders and political observers.
The meeting has been described by some members as an urgent one, convened at the instance of treasurer Govind Dev Giri. In his intimation to members, Giri is learnt to have said that the date had been advanced because important issues needed to be discussed. The Trust normally meets once every three months.
The last meeting was held on March 21, when the main agenda was preparation for Ram Navami celebrations. The latest meeting comes at a time when the temple is drawing large crowds and the Trust is under pressure to ensure smoother arrangements, clearer accountability and more structured decision-making.
Transparency and supervision likely to be key issues
One of the major items expected on the agenda is whether the Trust needs to restructure its day-to-day functioning. Members may discuss if additional oversight is required at a higher level to ensure transparency in internal decisions, records and administrative processes linked to the temple and its expanding operations.
A source said that concerns had grown among some members over the concentration of authority in the hands of a few office-bearers. “All this while, no transparency was being maintained. Only a handful of trust office-bearers were running the show with complete authority over all the internal matters. No record or documents were shared with others. With faith of the devotees shaken, we need to introduce checks and balances at multiple levels. More layers will be added to the overall decision-making process,” the source said.
If the Trust takes up restructuring, it may involve clearer division of responsibilities, regular sharing of documents among members and more formal approval systems for key decisions. Such a move would be important because the Trust handles matters linked to a temple that has national religious significance and receives contributions and attention from devotees across India and abroad.
The Trust was set up to oversee the construction and management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict in the Ayodhya title dispute. It was registered with the income tax department through a notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in May 2020. The body includes four ex-officio members representing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government.
Vacancy and crowd facilities also on agenda
The Trust may also consider adding a new member to fill the vacancy created by the death of Raja Ayodhya, Bimalendra Mohan Mishra, who passed away in August last year. A decision on expanding or restoring the full strength of the body could become part of a broader discussion on governance and representation within the Trust.
Beyond internal matters, the meeting is expected to examine the current crowd management system at the temple. With the number of visitors rising sharply since the opening of the temple to devotees, the Trust has been looking at ways to improve movement, waiting arrangements and basic services inside and around the temple complex.
Heat protection is likely to be a major concern. Ayodhya, like much of north India, has faced severe summer conditions in recent years. Long queues, exposed waiting areas and high footfall can create discomfort and health risks for devotees, particularly elderly visitors, children and those travelling from distant places.
“We need to add more facilities and amenities to protect devotees from extreme heat. Summer season is getting harsher and we have to plan by bringing experts on board,” a Trust member said. The remark indicates that the body may consider technical advice for shade, water points, ventilation, queue shelters and medical response systems.
For the Trust, the July 6 meeting is therefore not limited to two resignations. It may become a wider review of how the Ram temple’s administrative and public-facing systems should evolve after the first phase of temple activity. The decisions taken could shape both internal accountability and the experience of lakhs of devotees visiting Ayodhya in the months ahead.
