Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust appoints Air Vice Marshal Jitendra Mishra (Retd.) as first CEO

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the construction and administration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, appointed Air Vice Marshal Jitendra Mishra (Retd.) as its first Chief Executive Officer on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The decision was made during a meeting of the trust's board held at Maniram Das Chawani in Ayodhya.

The trust was constituted in February 2020 following the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute. It is responsible for the temple's construction, management of donations, and related administrative affairs. The appointment of a CEO is a significant step in the trust's efforts to streamline its functioning.

The board also filled three vacant positions. Two vacancies arose after senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and then general secretary Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra, resigned in July amid allegations of embezzlement. The third vacancy occurred after the death of trustee Vimlendra Pratap Mishra, a member of Ayodhya's erstwhile royal family.

According to a communique issued by the trust, the selection committee scrutinised about 5,585 applications and interviewed hundreds of candidates over nearly two months before recommending Air Vice Marshal Mishra for the post.

Air Vice Marshal Mishra has served in the Indian Air Force for 31 years, holding diverse positions across departments and gaining substantial leadership experience, the trust said. He is a recipient of the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, a distinguished wartime military award, and was associated with Operation Sindoor.

Reacting to his appointment, Air Vice Marshal Mishra said he learned about it through television like the general public. "I also got to know about my selection through television. I am elated for the same," he said.

The trust's board appointed three new members: Mahesh Bhagchandka, associated with the Ashok Singhla Foundation; Madan Mohan Pandey, an advocate; and Nirmala Yadav, who becomes the first woman to serve as a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Swami Govind Dev Giri continues as general secretary, while Mr. Bhagchandka will take charge as treasurer.

The trust also approved its annual accounts for the financial year 2025-26. It reported a total income of approximately ₹237 crore and expenditure of about ₹99 crore during the year. Capital expenditure on construction and related work stood at roughly ₹425 crore. As of March 31, 2026, the trust had total funds of approximately ₹1,882 crore.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad welcomed the appointment. Its president, Alok Kumar, described Air Vice Marshal Mishra as a senior and respected personality, adding that his experience would enable the trust to function more effectively and transparently.

The new appointments and administrative changes come against the backdrop of public allegations about the handling of donations at the temple, though the trust has maintained that it remains committed to transparency and proper utilisation of funds.