AYODHYA: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed three new trustees as its meeting in Ayodhya on Wednesday also considers the appointment of the first chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.The three new trustees are Delhi-based Mahesh Bhagchandka, a relative of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal; Ayodhya-based Madan Mohan Pandey; and Nirmala Yadav of Shikohabad.The trust meeting is going on at Shri Maniramdas Chhawni in Ayodhya and is expected to take up several issues, including the selection of the temple’s first CEO. The name of the CEO is expected to be announced after 4pm.Sources said retired bureaucrats are among the leading contenders for the post, though the identities of the three shortlisted candidates have not been disclosed.Trust members, including Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das and Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj, attended the meeting.The search committee constituted to select the first CEO submitted its final report on Tuesday after screening more than 5,000 applicants for the post.The three-member committee comprises Lieutenant General Vishnu Kant (Retd) Chaturvedi, former scientist Suresh Haware and former Justice Pramod Kohli.The report was submitted at a meeting attended by trust members, including Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj, Mahant Dinendra Das, acting general secretary Krishna Mohan and Ayodhya district magistrate Shashank Tripathi.The new appointments come two months after a major controversy erupted over alleged irregularities in the handling of temple donations and related financial management systems.
