Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appoints three new trustees

LUCKNOW: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed three new trustees at its meeting on Wednesday : Delhi-based Mahesh Bhagchandka, a relative of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal; Ayodhya’s Madan Mohan Pandey; and Shikohabad’s Nirmala Yadav.

The appointments come as the trust deliberates on the service conditions and standard operating procedure for the post of chief executive officer. Trust members will also consider three names recommended by the selection committee and decide their order of priority. The candidates are expected to be placed in priority order from one to three. After the first-priority candidate is decided, the Trust will approach the person with a remuneration package. If the candidate accepts the offer, the appointment is likely to be announced on Thursday.

“Trust members will examine the recommended names and discuss the responsibilities, reporting structure and other terms linked to the post before making the final decision. The appointment will be announced after the selected candidate formally accepts the offer,” said a highly placed source.

The selection committee has recommended three names as the main panel including a veteran military personal, and three others as reserve candidates. Of the six candidates proposed under the primary and secondary categories, one is a woman. The three principal recommendations were not initially ranked, with all of them being considered suitable for the post. On Tuesday, the selection committee submitted its detailed report to the Trust. The committee comprised retired Supreme Court judge Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi and Suresh Haware, a retired nuclear scientist and former chairperson of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi. The report outlined the methodology followed during the selection process, which began with 5,585 applications. The exercise involved several rounds of screening, assessment and interaction. Candidates were evaluated on their professional experience, management capabilities, leadership qualities, communication skills, technological understanding, vision and ability to handle large-scale operations.

The process was technology-enabled and included online interactions before the field was narrowed down to 16 finalists. The finalists appeared for face-to-face meetings in Ayodhya on Aug 11 and 12. The CEO will be responsible for overseeing the Trust’s administrative and operational functioning, including pilgrim management, coordination among stakeholders, major religious events, infrastructure-related activities and the use of technology in temple operations.