Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust Narrows Down First CEO Race to Top 3

Public Lokpal
August 12, 2026

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is finalizing its first-ever Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to streamline temple administration and financial management.

Out of a massive pool of over 5,300 applicants, a rigorous selection process evaluated 18 shortlisted candidates.

Prominent contenders include former Uttar Pradesh IPS "encounter specialist" Rajesh Pandey and former Ayodhya District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, both bringing extensive security and administrative expertise.

A three-member high-level panel—comprising retired Supreme Court Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lt. Gen. Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and former Shirdi Sai Baba Trust Chairman Suresh Haware—conducted the evaluations.

The committee is set to formally submit the final shortlist of three names to the Trust. The chosen official will shoulder the monumental responsibility of managing daily operations, crowd control, and pilgrim infrastructure at the grand Ram Mandir.