Ayodhya: In a major administrative reform, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the day-to-day management of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Significantly, the Trust has ruled out appointing a serving IAS officer to the position, opting instead for a retired senior government official or an individual with equivalent administrative experience, according to a report by Dainik Bhaskar.
The decision comes in the wake of recent concerns over financial management and security following a donation theft case and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) audit that flagged several procedural and accounting lapses.
Trust Rejects Serving IAS Officer
According to Trust functionaries, the decision to avoid appointing a serving IAS officer has been taken to preserve the administrative autonomy of the temple.
Officials believe that a serving bureaucrat would remain accountable to the government, whereas a retired officer would function solely under the Trust.
A Trust official explained that the objective is to ensure that the temple’s administration remains independent and free from direct government control.
Interestingly, several major temples in India, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, are currently administered by serving IAS or PCS officers.
Three Candidates to Be Finalised on July 22
The Trust has constituted a three-member committee to identify suitable candidates for the post.
The committee will submit a panel of three shortlisted candidates before the Trust on July 22, along with a detailed framework outlining the CEO’s duties, powers and administrative responsibilities.
The selected candidate will become the first CEO of the Ram Mandir.
Temple to Be Managed Like a Corporate Organisation
The Trust plans to introduce a professional management structure similar to that of a multinational company.
Under the proposed system:
- The CEO will report directly to the Trust Chairman.
- Engineers, financial experts and professional administrators will support the CEO.
- Around 1,500–2,000 employees are expected to work under the new administrative structure.
- Employees, including the CEO, will receive fixed salaries.
Currently, senior office-bearers such as General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra serve without remuneration.
The Trust also intends to enhance transparency by regularly sharing administrative decisions and developments with devotees.
Professional Management Needed After Donation Theft Case
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the Trust had initially not anticipated the need for professional administrators.
However, after the recent donation theft incident, members concluded that dedicated professionals were required to oversee the temple’s expanding operations.
He said the CEO would report directly to the Trust and not to the government.
The issue was discussed during the Trust meeting held on July 6, attended physically by eight trustees, while four members joined virtually.
CEO’s Key Responsibilities
The CEO will oversee the temple’s day-to-day administration and operational management.
Responsibilities will include:
- Supervising daily temple operations.
- Reviewing feedback from devotees.
- Monitoring ongoing construction activities.
- Managing employee deployment and shift schedules.
- Coordinating security arrangements.
- Addressing the media on important developments.
- Beginning each working day with prayers and darshan of Ram Lalla before administrative duties.
As the temple functions throughout the day, the CEO will ensure uninterrupted management of all religious, administrative and public service activities.
Two Immediate Priorities
The Trust has identified two priority assignments for the incoming CEO:
- Implementing the recommendations of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to prevent theft of devotees’ offerings.
- Strengthening the temple’s security infrastructure through AI-enabled surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology.
SIT Audit Flags Financial Lapses
The administrative overhaul follows findings of the SIT, which examined the Trust’s financial records for the period between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
According to the report:
- The Trust spent over ₹514 crore during the period.
- Proper accounting records were allegedly not maintained.
- Several expenditure entries were based on estimates.
- ₹16 lakh was spent on audit and legal services.
- ₹15 lakh was shown as travel expenditure without details of beneficiaries.
- ₹2.59 crore booked under welfare activities lacked supporting records.
- ₹2.71 crore shown as miscellaneous expenditure also lacked documentation.
- ₹11.49 crore was spent on security despite incidents of donation theft.
- ₹1.84 crore spent on special events had no corresponding records of the events conducted.
Major Expenditure Noted by SIT
The report also listed several major expenditures:
- ₹375 crore on temple construction
- ₹21.53 crore on land acquisition
- ₹9.81 crore paid to Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
- ₹4.83 crore for the Pilgrim Reception Centre
- ₹2.76 crore for dormitory construction near Ram Niwas
- ₹2.70 crore for construction works near Bagh Bijaisi
Questions Raised Over CCTV Data Retention
The SIT also questioned the temple’s surveillance policy.
Although ₹66 lakh had been spent on video storage infrastructure, CCTV footage from the room where devotees’ offerings were counted was retained for only 45 days.
The report noted that an earlier internal audit had recommended preserving footage for 180 days, but the recommendation was not implemented.
As a result, investigators were unable to access older footage during the inquiry into the donation theft case.
Cyber security expert and retired SP Triveni Singh observed that longer retention periods are technically feasible through cloud storage and noted that banking regulations require preservation of cash-related surveillance footage for significantly longer durations.
Ram Mandir Trust’s Financial Position
The Trust also shared details of its assets and financial holdings during its July 6 meeting.
According to the figures:
- 32 kg of gold has been received as offerings.
- 1,518 kg of silver has been donated by devotees.
- The silver is refined into 99.99% purity silver bricks through the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India before being stored in bank lockers.
The Trust also holds ₹1,876 crore in bank deposits across:
- State Bank of India (SBI)
- Bank of Baroda
- Punjab National Bank (PNB)
Financial disclosures further revealed:
- ₹3,264 crore received through the temple dedication fund.
- ₹582 crore received as devotees’ offerings.
- ₹2,370 crore spent on temple construction.
- ₹391 crore spent on administration and management.
The proposed CEO-led governance model marks a significant shift in the management of one of India’s most prominent religious institutions, with the Trust aiming to combine professional administration, transparency, financial accountability and enhanced security as the temple prepares for growing numbers of devotees.
