Air Marshal (retd.) Jeetendra Mishra appointed first CEO of Ram Temple trust - The Hindu

**Air Marshal (retd.) Jeetendra Mishra Named First CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra**

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJTK), the statutory body created by the central government to oversee the construction and administration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, announced on Thursday that retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed its first Chief Executive Officer. The decision, conveyed through an official press release, marks the first major leadership appointment for the trust, which was constituted following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict that cleared the way for the temple’s construction. Mishra will assume responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of the trust’s finances, infrastructure projects, and stakeholder coordination, reporting directly to the board of trustees headed by the Union Minister of Culture.

Air Marshal Mishra brings more than three decades of service in the Indian Air Force to the role, including command of the “Operation Sindoor” task force that supervised the ceremonial marking of the temple site in 2020. A decorated war veteran, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal for distinguished service and gallantry. After retiring as an Air Marshal, he served on several government advisory panels on infrastructure and disaster management, experience that the trust hopes will translate into efficient project execution and transparent governance for the high‑profile temple complex.

The appointment has drawn scrutiny from some state officials and civil‑society groups who have called for a more transparent selection process. Telangana’s Senior Minister K. T. Rama Rao urged the Supreme Court to supervise a panel that would vet future appointments, citing concerns about politicisation. However, the central government has defended the decision, stating that Mishra’s track record of disciplined administration and his non‑partisan service record make him a suitable candidate to steer the trust’s ambitious construction timetable and to manage the massive inflow of donations expected for the project. The trust is slated to begin major construction work later this year, with Mishra’s leadership seen as pivotal to meeting those deadlines.