Ram Mandir Trust Overhaul: Ex-Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra Named First CEO, Govind Dev Giri Elevated; Three New Trustees Join Amid Donation Controversy
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has carried out a major leadership overhaul at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, appointing retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as its first full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The decision was taken on September 2 after a selection process that began with 5,585 applications.
Mishra, who retired from the Indian Air Force in April 2026 after nearly four decades of service, previously served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command. He was also associated with the planning and command structure during Operation Sindoor. His new responsibility will cover temple administration, operations, security, staff management, devotee facilities and coordination with government agencies.
The CEO selection followed a detailed screening process. According to reports, thousands of applications were initially assessed, with 16 candidates eventually interviewed by the selection panel. Three candidates were shortlisted for the final stage: Jitendra Mishra, Major General Sanjay Pratap Singh and Shruti Bhardwaj. Mishra was ultimately selected.
The appointment comes against the backdrop of the Ram Mandir donation controversy, in which allegations of irregularities and theft involving temple donations triggered investigations and the arrest of eight people. The controversy placed the Trust’s financial and administrative systems under intense public scrutiny.
The Trust had earlier accepted the resignation of Champat Rai as General Secretary and trustee Dr Anil Mishra amid the controversy. Krishna Mohan was subsequently given interim responsibility as General Secretary while the Trust began restructuring its administration.
A major point in the new reshuffle is the movement of Swami Govind Dev Giri from Treasurer to full-time General Secretary. Giri had been serving as the Trust’s treasurer when the donation controversy emerged. His elevation means that he will now take charge of the Trust’s broader administrative functioning.
The Treasurer’s position has consequently been assigned to Mahesh Bhagchandka, one of the three newly appointed trustees. Bhagchandka is a Delhi-based businessman and social worker associated with the Ashok Singhal Foundation.
The Trust has also inducted three new trustees — Mahesh Bhagchandka, advocate Madan Mohan Pandey and Dr Nirmala Yadav. Their appointments fill three vacancies, including those created after the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra and the death of former trustee Bimlendra Pratap Mishra.
Dr Nirmala Yadav’s appointment is particularly significant because she becomes the first woman member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. The Trust’s expanded composition brings together people with backgrounds in education, law, business and social work.
Madan Mohan Pandey is a senior advocate from Ayodhya who was associated with the legal proceedings surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute. His inclusion gives the restructured Trust another member with direct experience of the long-running Ram Janmabhoomi litigation.
The restructuring therefore goes beyond simply filling vacant posts. The creation of a dedicated CEO position represents a shift toward professionalised day-to-day management, while the changes in General Secretary and Treasurer roles are intended to create a clearer division of administrative and financial responsibilities.
The timing is crucial. The Trust is moving from the enormous construction-and-inauguration phase of the Ram Mandir project toward the long-term management of a major religious complex receiving large numbers of devotees. At the same time, it has to rebuild confidence following the donation controversy and demonstrate stronger financial accountability.
The Trust has also welcomed the expansion of the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, saying that a thorough probe would help establish the facts and address doubts surrounding the controversy.
In short, the new structure is: Jitendra Mishra — CEO; Swami Govind Dev Giri — General Secretary; Mahesh Bhagchandka — Treasurer and Trustee; Madan Mohan Pandey — Trustee; Dr Nirmala Yadav — Trustee. The changes mark the most significant administrative restructuring of the Ram Mandir Trust since the donation controversy erupted.
