‘Over 5,200 applications’: Ram Temple trust defers CEO selection by a month

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday deferred the appointment of its first chief executive officer (CEO) by a month following the overwhelming number of applications for the post. The trust has received over 5,200 applications, officials said.

It was decided at a meeting of the board of trustees to appoint a secretary in the interim period to meet the growing administrative requirements. This was the second meeting of the trust amid allegations of theft of donations offered at the temple. In its July 6 meeting, the trust accepted the resignations of former general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra.

“The committee formed to select the CEO demanded additional time of one month in view of the huge number of applicants for the post. The trust has accepted the demand due to the seriousness of the matter and circumstances. It has approved the appointment of a secretary until the selection of the CEO,” read an official statement issued by interim general secretary Kishna Mohan.

Additionally, the trust announced the reconstitution of a panel tasked with overseeing the religious affairs of the temple. The panel comprising nine seers – five from Ayodhya and four from other regions – will supervise the temple’s religious activities.

Posts still vacant

However, there was no decision on filling the three vacant posts in the trust.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, Mr. Mohan and treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the members also reviewed arrangements for the expected rise in the number of devotees during the ongoing Shravan month, the progress on filling vacant trustee posts, and several administrative and financial issues.

The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 to examine the donation theft allegations. Following the submission of its preliminary report on June 23, an FIR was registered on June 25 and eight accused were arrested in the case.

‘Cooperating with probe’

Officials said since the final report of the SIT has not been received, the matter wasn’t discussed in the meeting. They added that the finance committee of the trust was also asked to reconsider the standard operating procedure with the State Bank of India in view of safety loopholes that came to light following the theft probe. The trust said it has been fully cooperating with the probe and expressed hope that all those responsible would be brought to justice.