Lucknow: “Do you drink alcohol?”, “Do you wear a janeu (sacred thread)?”, “How strong is your faith in Lord Ram?”
Candidates seeking to become the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya are being asked these questions, according to functionaries familiar with the interview process.
The interviews began Tuesday and will be conducted over three days. More than 5,200 people applied as the Trust invited applications last month, after the Ram Temple donation theft scandal rocked Ayodhya. According to Trust functionaries, out of 5,200, only 18 candidates have been shortlisted for interviews. Most of them are retired government officials.
The age limit for the post of trust CEO has been fixed at 50 to 70 years. Candidates are being interviewed individually for more than an hour in a closed-door setting.
The three-member selection panel comprises retired judge Permod Kohli, Lieutenant General (retd) Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi and scientist and former chairman of the Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Suresh Haware.
The candidates are being questioned on temple administration, management, financial management, their previous experience and postings. Their familiarity with Hindu customs and traditions and their “devotion to Lord Ram” is also being assessed, according to sources in the know.
Sources associated with Trust said some candidates were asked whether they keep a shikha (traditional Hindu tuft of hair) or wear a janeu (thread). Questions were also asked about their experience in managing religious events.
The trust, according to people familiar with the process, is looking for a CEO who follows Hindu traditions and stays away from intoxicants. Candidates have therefore also been asked about their eating and drinking habits, including whether they consume alcohol or non-vegetarian food.
A set of 34 questions were reportedly prepared by the interview panel. The three-member panel will shortlist three names and forward them to the Temple Trust. Trust office-bearers will then interview the three shortlisted candidates before selecting one name for the final appointment.
An applicant who appeared for the interview on the condition of anonymity told ThePrint, “I was asked more than a dozen questions and the interview lasted around an hour. The first question was about my vision for the Ram Temple. I gave a detailed answer that lasted around 10 minutes. I was then asked how closely I follow Hindu rituals and traditions.”
He added, “They also asked how I would handle crowd management. There were questions about food habits as well, including whether I drink alcohol or eat non-vegetarian food. They did not do much cross-questioning. They listened patiently to the candidate, which I thought was a good thing.”
A senior trust official told ThePrint that questions related to the alleged donation theft were not part of the interviews.
“Questions about the donation case or the alleged irregularities are not being asked,” the official said, adding that special care was being taken to ensure that no electronic device or recording equipment was brought into the interview venue.
Opposition leaders continue to rake up the donation theft controversy in Parliament as well as UP assembly. The final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged donation irregularities is yet to be submitted.
Former encounter specialist, ex-Ayodhya DMs among contenders
On the first day, three former IAS officers, a former IPS officer and four former military officers appeared for interviews. The second day saw another three retired civil servants.
ThePrint has learnt that the former IPS Rajesh Pandey, who was regarded as an encounter specialist during his service, is among the candidates. Former Jaunpur district magistrate Dinesh Chandra also appeared for the interview.
Former Ayodhya district magistrates Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Sameer Pandya are also in the race.
Candidates are first taken on a tour of the entire temple complex before being interviewed behind closed doors in a hall at the ‘Green House’ in the campus.
Full-time CEO post after donation controversy
The trust decided to appoint a full-time CEO following allegations of irregularities in the handling of donations received for the Ram Temple. The financial management of the trust is currently under scrutiny and eight people have so far been arrested in connection with the case. On 6 July, former trust general secretary Champat Rai and two other office-bearers resigned from their positions.
The CEO’s post is considered crucial as the temple complex’s administrative responsibilities, arrangements for devotees and coordination among various departments have expanded significantly.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: ‘We will pray, but not donate’: How Ram Temple donation theft row is affecting Ayodhya’s livelihood