Operation Sindoor Veteran Jeetendra Mishra Named Ram Temple Trust’s First CEO

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed Air Marshal (retd) Jeetendra Mishra, who headed the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor, as its first chief executive officer, marking a significant move towards professionalising the administration of the Ram temple.

Mishra was selected from 5,585 applications after an extensive selection process. The search committee, headed by retired Justice Pramod Kohli, shortlisted three highly qualified professionals after assessing their leadership, management expertise, integrity and vision.

The new CEO post comes as the temple complex enters a more demanding phase. With huge numbers of devotees visiting Ayodhya, the Trust now has to manage a sprawling ecosystem involving pilgrim facilities, finances, security, infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Mishra is expected to provide full-time executive oversight of the Trust's functioning, including administrative coordination, financial management, implementation of Trust decisions and long-term operational planning. The Trust will remain the ultimate governing authority, while the CEO's precise powers and responsibilities are to be defined through service conditions and operating procedures.

His appointment also comes against the backdrop of a controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations, which led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary. The creation of a dedicated executive post is therefore expected to bring greater institutional oversight and professional management to the Trust.

Mishra brings nearly 38 years of experience in the Indian Air Force, including senior operational, command and planning assignments. His tenure as head of Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor puts him among the most senior military figures to take up an administrative role at the temple trust.

The selection committee also included retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former scientist Suresh Haware. It submitted its final report to Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri on Tuesday.

Mishra's appointment signals a shift in the Trust's priorities. With the temple no longer simply a construction project, the challenge is now to build a professional administrative institution capable of managing finances, visitors, security and infrastructure at a site that is rapidly emerging as one of India's biggest religious destinations.