Lucknow: Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust of Ayodhya after a meeting Wednesday announced administrative and religious measures aimed at strengthening the management.
The trust has announced it will form a nine-member religious committee to oversee traditional rituals. Apart from that the appointment of an official spokesperson and secretary was also been announced during a key meeting.
These appointment come after the resignations of former general secretary Champat Rai (who also acted as spokesperson), and trustee Anil Mishra in the wake of allegations of misappropriation of donations to the Ram temple.
As per functionaries present at the meeting, the trust approved the appointment of an official spokesperson to maintain regular communication with the media and the public. The spokesperson will ensure authentic and timely information regarding the temple and the trust’s activities is released to the media.
In addition, a secretary will be appointed to manage increasing administrative responsibilities arising from the growing scale of temple operations.
The trust also reviewed the ongoing selection process for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the investigation into alleged irregularities in the counting of temple donations, and the temple’s security arrangements.
One of the major decisions was the reconstitution of a religious committee to ensure that all worship and rituals at the Ram Temple continue in accordance with established religious traditions. The nine-member panel will be headed by trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri and include five saints from Ayodhya and four representatives of the trust.
The panel includes Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Swami Vishwaprasannatirth, Swami Dinendradas, Swami Kamalnayan Das, Mahant Rajkumar Das, Swami Ramanand Das and Swami Mithileshnandini Sharan.
5,200 applicants for CEO post
In the official statement, the trust added that the meeting reviewed the process of selecting a new CEO for temple administration. Around 5,200 candidates from across the country have applied online for the post. The selection committee has sought an additional month to scrutinise applications and recommend suitable candidates.
The trust also discussed vacant trustee positions and expressed confidence that the appointments would be completed within the next few weeks. It was also decided that other vacant administrative posts would be filled within a week, although no formal announcement was made regarding the appointment of a new general secretary following the resignation of Champat Rai.
ThePrint has learnt that the meeting also addressed concerns over the alleged irregularities in the counting of temple donations. The trust had earlier entered into an agreement with the State Bank of India (SBI) for managing the counting process. However, some individuals deployed by the bank for the task were later accused in the theft case, prompting dissatisfaction among several saints over the bank’s role.
In the official statement, the trust has mentioned that senior functionaries have directed the trust’s finance committee to review the entire matter and recommend necessary action. It clarified that the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the alleged irregularities has not yet been submitted. Consequently, no detailed discussion on the investigation was held during the meeting, although members took note of the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court and its directions.
Reviewing the temple’s security arrangements, the trust expressed satisfaction with the CCTV surveillance system. It said that all cameras, including those installed in the donation counting room, remain under the control of security officials.
Responding to recent controversies surrounding the temple, the trust asserted that there has been no decline in the number of devotees visiting the Ram Temple despite allegations and what it described as misinformation campaigns. It said the continued influx of pilgrims reflects the unwavering faith of millions of devotees and expressed gratitude to saints, devotees and the people of Ayodhya for their continued support.
The meeting concluded without announcing appointments to the trust’s top vacant positions but the focus now shifts to the upcoming appointments of a secretary, spokesperson, trustees and the selection of a new CEO.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court recently asked the UP government whether it could reconstitute the special investigation team (SIT) to ensure a fair and transparent probe into the Ram temple donation theft while cautioning litigants against politicising the issue.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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