Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Jeetendra Mishra Holds First Meeting as Ram Temple Trust CEO
Jeetendra Mishra, a retired senior Air Force officer, has been chosen as the first CEO of the trust that manages the Ram temple.
He travelled to Ayodhya and prayed at the temple.
He then met the trust’s members for the first time.
The meeting helped him learn how the trust and its money systems work.
Mishra said he needs several more days, with reports giving estimates from two to seven days, before making decisions.
The trust has not yet written the rules explaining exactly what the CEO will do.
The CEO is expected to manage everyday work, such as helping devotees and supervising staff.
The trust members will still make the biggest policy and financial decisions.
Mishra said he felt grateful and believed Lord Ram’s blessings helped him receive the responsibility.
Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra attended his first meeting with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya on Thursday.
Mishra offered prayers at the Ram temple and said he would spend several days understanding the trust before making management decisions.
Trust members briefed him on accounting, finances, administration and the alleged temple-donation embezzlement case.
Standard operating procedures defining the CEO’s duties have not yet been finalised, and Mishra has not formally taken charge.
The appointment is part of an administrative overhaul following eight arrests linked to the donation controversy and Champat Rai’s resignation as general secretary.
- Who
- Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra was appointed the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
- What
- Mishra attended his first trust meeting and began learning about the CEO’s responsibilities, but had not formally taken charge.
- When
- He arrived and attended meetings on Thursday, September 3; reports said formal decisions would follow after several days of familiarisation.
- Where
- Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, including the Ram temple and the trust office at Ramghat.
- Why
- The appointment forms part of an administrative overhaul intended to strengthen the trust’s management and financial functioning after a donation controversy.
Concerns About the CEO Appointment
Support for a Dedicated CEO Role
Whether the position was needed
Concerns About the CEO Appointment
Some trust members and Ayodhya sadhus opposed appointing a CEO to manage the temple, according to the Telegraph India report.
Support for a Dedicated CEO Role
The trust proceeded with the appointment as part of a broader effort to strengthen administration and financial functioning as the temple’s responsibilities expand.
Mishra’s authority and duties
Concerns About the CEO Appointment
The CEO’s responsibilities, salary and relationship with the chairman and general secretary had not yet been fully decided, and standard operating procedures remained pending.
Support for a Dedicated CEO Role
Under the proposed arrangement, the trust would set policies while the CEO would implement them, supervise daily operations, assist devotees, coordinate departments and liaise with authorities.
Timing of taking charge
Concerns About the CEO Appointment
Mishra and trust sources said he had attended an introductory meeting but had not formally assumed office and needed several more days to understand the role.
Support for a Dedicated CEO Role
An earlier report described him as arriving to take over his assignment, while the Telegraph India headline said he had begun the role; later accounts clarified that formal assumption remained pending.
- Appointee
- Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
- Position
- First Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust
- Formal takeover
- Not completed; Mishra said he would need several days to understand the organisation and role
- Time estimates reported
- Mishra’s statements and reports gave estimates ranging from two to five days to six or seven days
- Selection process
- The trust received 5,585 applications and shortlisted three candidates
- Briefing topics
- Trust accounts, accounting procedures, financial management, administration and the alleged donation-theft case
- Administrative context
- The overhaul followed eight arrests linked to alleged temple-donation embezzlement and Champat Rai’s resignation as general secretary
Sources
Appointment due to blessings of Lord Ram, says first CEO of Ram temple trust
Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Attends First Trust Meeting, Yet To Take Charge As Ram Temple CEO
Ayodhya Ram temple CEO: Jeetendra Mishra begins role after Operation Sindoor service - Telegraph India