Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Ram Temple Trust Names Woman Professor, Ayodhya Lawyer, Delhi Businessman
The group managing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has chosen three new trustees.
Dr Nirmala Yadav is the first woman to join the Trust.
She was a college principal and has experience in education and administration.
Madan Mohan Pandey is a lawyer from Ayodhya who worked on the Ram Janmabhoomi court case for many years.
Mahesh Bhagchandka is a businessman and social worker from Delhi.
He will manage the Trust’s treasury.
The new members come from education, law and business backgrounds.
Their appointments came after some Trust positions became empty and after concerns about stolen donations.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed three new trustees on Wednesday.
Dr Nirmala Yadav became the Trust’s first woman member and its first woman OBC member.
Ayodhya-based advocate Madan Mohan Pandey joined after representing Shri Ram Lalla Virajman in the Ram Janmabhoomi litigation.
Delhi businessman and social worker Mahesh Bhagchandka was appointed treasurer.
The appointments followed vacancies linked to a death, resignations and a donation theft controversy.
- Who
- The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Dr Nirmala Yadav, advocate Madan Mohan Pandey and businessman-social worker Mahesh Bhagchandka.
- What
- The Trust appointed three trustees and named Bhagchandka its treasurer; it also appointed retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as its first chief executive officer.
- When
- The appointments were announced on Wednesday; the article does not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- The appointments concern the Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh; Bhagchandka is based in Delhi, and Pandey is based in Ayodhya Cantonment.
- Why
- The appointments filled vacancies and brought in people from different professions and backgrounds following a donation theft controversy.
- New trustees
- Dr Nirmala Yadav, Madan Mohan Pandey and Mahesh Bhagchandka
- First woman trustee
- Dr Nirmala Yadav is the first woman member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
- Nirmala Yadav
- A 66-year-old retired college principal from Shikohabad who holds a PhD and postgraduate degrees in Hindi and Sanskrit.
- Madan Mohan Pandey
- A 74-year-old advocate who represented Shri Ram Lalla Virajman and Mahant Shri Ramchandra Paramhans from 1990 to 2019.
- Mahesh Bhagchandka
- A 68-year-old Delhi-based businessman and social worker appointed as the Trust’s treasurer.
- Treasurer change
- Bhagchandka replaces Govind Giri, who became the Trust’s general secretary.
- Vacancies
- The positions became vacant after trustee Bimlendra Mohan Mishra died and Champat Rai and Anil Mishra resigned.