The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is convening a major two-part meeting in Ayodhya this Wednesday to address significant leadership and administrative changes. This gathering marks the second such high-level session since the emergence of the temple offering theft case, which prompted a reshuffle within the organization. A primary focus of today's agenda is the potential appointment of a new permanent General Secretary to oversee the trust's extensive operations and manage the daily affairs of the temple complex.
Rebuilding The Trust Leadership
Currently, three out of the eleven permanent member positions within the governing body are vacant. The leadership crisis deepened when Champat Rai, who previously held the crucial position of General Secretary, stepped down from his role following the controversy surrounding the donation theft. Anil Mishra also resigned as a member during this period of restructuring. Additionally, a seat became empty when Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra of the Ayodhya royal family passed away last year.
According to the official trust deed, ten of these permanent members are elected through a majority resolution by the existing board. The remaining eleventh seat is permanently reserved for the Nirmohi Akhara and cannot be altered under any circumstances. Mahant Dinendra Das is currently representing the Akhara on the board. Sources indicate that Yatindra Mishra, son of the late Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, is highly likely to be inducted as a new member to fill his father's position. In the interim, Krishna Mohan has been carrying out the duties of the General Secretary, having been appointed to the temporary role during the previous trust meeting held on July 6.
Decentralizing Operations And Committees
Today's extensive meetings are scheduled to take place at the Mani Ram Chhavni math, the residence of Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. To handle the dense agenda, the trust has planned two separate sessions, with the first commencing at 3 PM and the second following at 4 PM. A significant portion of these discussions will revolve around decentralizing the massive administrative workload of the temple. The members are expected to form dedicated, specialized committees to handle different operational aspects. These new panels will be tasked with managing finance, overseeing the counting of donations, streamlining pooja arrangements, and organizing the issuance of darshan passes for the growing number of devotees.
Initially, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report concerning the offering theft case was slated for a detailed discussion. However, since the matter has now reached the Supreme Court, the trust is expected to drop it from today's agenda to avoid commenting on a sub-judice matter.
Scrutinizing Thousands Of CEO Applications
Another critical item on the table is defining the exact operational role and administrative responsibilities of the upcoming Chief Executive Officer. The appeal of managing one of the country's most prominent religious sites has resulted in a massive influx of interest, with the trust receiving over 5,000 applications for the CEO position.
To handle this enormous volume, a specialized three-member selection committee has been formed. This panel comprises retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and Suresh Haware. They are currently engrossed in the initial phase of scrutinizing the applications and shortlisting eligible candidates. Once the screening process is complete, the shortlisted candidates will be called for comprehensive interviews. Finally, the selection committee will present three top names to the trust board, which will then make the ultimate decision and select one individual for the role. The entire selection process for the CEO is projected to conclude by August 15.
