Ram temple trust defers CEO selection by month, to appoint interim secretary

Ayodhya, July 22: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday deferred the selection of its first chief executive officer (CEO) by a month after receiving 5,200 applications for the post and decided to appoint a secretary in the interim to meet growing administrative requirements.
The meeting of the board of trustees, however, saw no decision on filling the three vacant posts in the Trust. The next meeting on this and other pending issues would take place on September 2, its officials said.
The members reviewed arrangements for the expected rise in the number of devotees during the ongoing Shravan month, progress on filling vacant trustee posts and several administrative and financial issues.
After the meeting, interim general secretary Krishna Mohan and treasurer Govind Dev Giri briefed the press.
The treasurer said a committee constituted to select the CEO has sought an additional month to scrutinise the large number of applications received for the post.
“We have received a total of 5,200 applications for the CEO post. Considering the volume of applications, the selection committee sought one month’s additional time, which has been approved by the Trust,” he said.
He added that the Trust has also decided to constitute a permanent religious committee to oversee all religious affairs of the Ram temple.
“The committee will comprise nine saints, including five from Ayodhya and four from outside,” he said.
Giri said the Trust has also decided to establish a permanent training institute for priests. “We have decided to set up a permanent training institute for training priests. These priests will be certified by the Ram temple Trust,” Govind Dev Giri said.
Trust acting general secretary Krishna Mohan said discussions on the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing alleged irregularities in the counting of devotees’ offerings, could not take place as the report had not yet been received by the Trust.
He said the trustees, however, took note of the proceedings before the Supreme Court and the directions passed by it in connection with petitions relating to the alleged embezzlement of temple donations.
The trustees also reviewed the security mechanism of the temple’s CCTV network and expressed satisfaction that all security officials already have access to the entire surveillance system, including cameras installed in the donation counting room, Krishna Mohan said. (PTI)