Lucknow/Ayodhya: The race for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has gathered momentum, with three prominent retired bureaucrats emerging as leading contenders for the prestigious position.
According to sources in the power corridors, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Nripendra Misra, former Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi, and former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar are being considered for the top administrative role in the trust overseeing the iconic Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The development comes amid reports of alleged mishandling of funds and donations by some officials associated with the trust, prompting discussions within the government on appointing a seasoned bureaucrat to strengthen administrative oversight and improve institutional governance.
Government Mulls Professional Administrative Leadership
Sources indicate that the government is inclined towards appointing a senior retired civil servant with extensive administrative experience to head the Trust’s executive functions.
While the names of Nripendra Mishra and Awanish Kumar Awasthi have been doing the rounds for some time, the emergence of former DGP Prashant Kumar as a potential candidate has added a fresh dimension to the selection process.
All three candidates possess decades of experience in governance, public administration and institutional management, making them strong contenders for the position.
Why a Bureaucrat is Being Considered
The move to appoint a bureaucrat follows reports regarding irregularities in the management of donations and financial affairs of the Trust. Although no official announcement has been made, sources suggest that the government is keen to ensure greater transparency, accountability and professional management of one of India’s most prominent religious institutions.
The proposed appointment is expected to streamline administrative processes, strengthen financial oversight and enhance institutional governance at the Trust.
Nripendra Misra: PM’s Former Principal Secy & Temple Construction Chairman
Among the frontrunners, Mr Misra enjoys a unique advantage as he is already closely associated with the Ram Temple project.
A retired 1967-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Mr Misra has played a key role in supervising the construction of the Ram Temple. Widely regarded as one of India’s most accomplished civil servants, he served as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2014 and 2019, becoming one of the Prime Minister’s closest bureaucratic advisors.
Born on March 8, 1945, in Kasili village of Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Misra completed postgraduate studies in Chemistry and Political Science from the University of Allahabad before earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
During his distinguished career, he held several key positions including:
- Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
- Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
- Telecom Secretary
- Fertilizers Secretary
- Principal Secretary (Finance), Government of Uttar Pradesh
In recognition of his contributions to public administration, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2021.
His existing involvement in the Ram Temple project is considered a major factor working in his favour.
Awanish Kumar Awasthi: Veteran Administrator with Ayodhya Experience
Another leading contender is Awanish Kumar Awasthi, a retired 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Originally from Kanpur, Awasthi is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, where he graduated in Electrical Engineering before joining the Indian Administrative Service.
During his distinguished administrative career spanning over three decades, he served as District Magistrate in several important districts including:
- Lalitpur
- Badaun
- Azamgarh
- Varanasi
- Ayodhya (then Faizabad)
- Meerut
- Gorakhpur
His experience in Ayodhya administration is considered particularly relevant for the CEO position.
Apart from district assignments, Awasthi held several prestigious positions including:
- Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh
- Chairman and Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL)
- Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)
- Joint Secretary, Government of India
He handled major departments such as Home, Information and Religious Affairs during his tenure in the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Prashant Kumar: Former UP DGP Enters the Race
Adding a new twist to the developments is the inclusion of Prashant Kumar, retired 1990-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
A native of Siwan district in Bihar, Prashant Kumar served the Uttar Pradesh Police for over three decades and rose through the ranks to become the state’s Acting Director General of Police before retiring in 2025.
During his illustrious policing career, he occupied several important positions, including:
- Inspector General of Police
- Additional Director General
- Special Director General (Law and Order)
- Acting Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh
He earned recognition for strengthening law and order management, handling major security challenges and coordinating statewide policing operations.
His extensive administrative and leadership experience has now placed him among the leading names being considered for the CEO’s post.
Appointment Yet to Be Finalised
While discussions are reportedly underway, no official announcement has yet been made regarding the appointment.
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is expected to take a final call after consultations with the concerned authorities.
Given the significance of the Ram Temple project and the increasing scale of pilgrim management, infrastructure development and financial administration, the CEO’s role is expected to be critical in ensuring efficient governance of the Trust in the years ahead.
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