Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Named First CEO Of Ram Temple Trust

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who served as an Air Force officer, has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, where he will have a significant administrative role to manage the Ayodhya Ram temple.

The decision was taken during the Trust’s meeting on Wednesday as part of a wider restructuring of its administrative setup.

The Trust also elected Mahesh Bhagchandka as their new treasurer. Swami Govinddev Giri will be replaced by new general secretary Mahesh Bhagchandka, Madan Mohan Pandey, and Dr Nirmala Yadav as new trustees.

Who is Jeetendra Mishra?

Mishra joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on December 6, 1986, and completed more than 38 years of service.

He is a Fighter Combat Leader and experimental test pilot with over 3000 hours flight time. He has commanded a fighter squadron and served as chief test pilot at the Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment.

During his career Mishra served in various senior roles such as Air Officer Commanding of two frontline air bases, Commandant of ASTE and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff for Operations.

He also had important posts at Air Headquarters such as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects).

In January 2025, Mishra took charge of the Western Air Command, one of the IAF’s major operational commands. He later led the command during Operation Sindoor.

Mishra has received a number of military honors like Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. The Trust has also awarded him the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.

How was the first CEO selected?

The selection exercise began on July 6, 2026, when a three-member search committee was formed under retired Justice Pramod Kohli, former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.

Retired Lieutenant General B K Chaturvedi and nuclear scientist Dr Suresh Avaran were the other members of the committee.

The panel finalised the eligibility criteria and selection procedure at its first meeting on July 11. A total of 5,585 applications were received from across the country.

After multiple stages of screening, 16 candidates were shortlisted and invited to Ayodhya for personal interactions on August 11 and 12. Their professional backgrounds, experience, personality and capabilities were assessed during the process.

Three candidates were ultimately recommended for the CEO position: Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, Major General Sanjay Pratap Singh Vishwasrao and Shruti Bhardwaj.

After reviewing their profiles, the Trust selected Mishra for the newly created position.

CEO to oversee administration and finances

The Trust plans to formally establish the CEO’s powers and responsibilities through amendments to its deed. The proposal forms part of a broader 12-point agenda for the organisation.

The CEO is expected to oversee statutory, administrative and financial matters while developing systems and operating procedures appropriate to the scale of the temple trust.

The position will also involve strengthening the organisation’s internal structure, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and overseeing its future expansion and operations.

Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, had earlier emphasised the need for a full-time CEO to bring greater professionalism and transparency to the temple’s administration.

The Trust has maintained that the CEO will function independently of government interference and report to its general secretary.

Donation controversy and financial oversight on agenda

The Trust’s meeting also reviewed the Special Investigation Team’s probe into alleged irregularities involving temple donations, along with related proceedings before the Supreme Court.

Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned on June 26, a day after Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case concerning alleged irregularities linked to donations received for the shrine.

The Trust welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to expand the scope of the SIT investigation, saying it would help establish the facts and address public concerns.

The meeting also discussed ways to minimise manual involvement in counting cash offerings. Proposals submitted by two banks and an IIT will be examined as part of the effort.

The Trust approved its accounts for 2025-26, recording income of ₹237 crore against expenditure of ₹11 crore. Capital expenditure on construction and related activities stood at ₹425 crore, while the Trust had total funds of ₹1,882 crore as of March 31, 2026.

The appointment of the first CEO is being seen as a major step in the Trust’s broader effort to professionalise its administration and strengthen operational and financial systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ravali Hymavati

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K. Ravali Hymavathi being born in Hyderabad holds a strong command in the content writing field. She always sticks to her principles and holds a passion for ‘Entertainment’ and ‘Lifestyle’ write-ups. She earlier worked for Eenadu’s ‘EeYuva’ and started working for Hans India from a couple of years…

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