Ram Temple Trust names 3 new trustees; to rank three CEO candidates today - The Times of India

**Ram Temple Trust Expands Leadership Team Amid Heightened Scrutiny**

The Ram Temple Trust announced the induction of three new trustees—Mr. Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Ms. Sunita Sharma, and Mr. Praveen Kumar—who will join the governing board overseeing the construction and management of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya. In parallel, the trust said it will evaluate and rank three shortlisted candidates for the post of chief executive officer (CEO) later today, a step that follows a month‑long search conducted by an independent panel of experts. The appointments come as the trust seeks to solidify its administrative structure while adhering to the timelines stipulated by the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict that mandated the completion of the temple by December 2025.

The selections have sparked divergent reactions from political leaders and senior officials. Air Marshal (Retd.) Jeetendra Mishra, who has been appointed as a special advisor to the trust, described the CEO role as “God’s order” and an “opportunity to serve the nation,” emphasizing the symbolic importance of efficient stewardship. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party condemned the moves as a “Ram dhan ki chori,” alleging that the BJP’s control over the trust’s appointments undermines transparency and marginalizes dissenting voices. The BJP, which currently holds the state government, defended the process as “consistent with the mandate to ensure smooth progress of the temple project,” noting that all appointments have followed the trust’s established bylaws.

Looking ahead, the newly appointed trustees and the eventual CEO will be tasked with restoring public confidence and instituting rigorous transparency measures. The Deccan Herald highlighted expectations that the CEO will implement regular audits, public disclosures of expenditures, and stakeholder consultations to preempt allegations of mismanagement. As the trust prepares to finalize the CEO ranking, observers anticipate that the chosen leader will need to balance religious sensitivities with robust governance practices to meet both devotional expectations and legal obligations.