Ayodhya, 2 September

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first chief executive officer, former treasurer Govind Dev Giri as its new general secretary and Mahesh Bhagchandka as treasurer at a meeting held here.

Mishra, who headed the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor, was selected from a shortlist of three candidates after the trust's selection committee scrutinised 5,585 applications. The other shortlisted candidates were Major General Sanjay Pratap Singh Bisht and Shruti Hardwari.

The trust also inducted Madan Mohan Pandey of Ayodhya, Bhagchandka of Delhi and Dr Nirmala Yadav of Shikohabad as new trustees. The meeting was held in two sessions, with the newly inducted trustees joining the second session online, interim secretary Krishna Mohan said.

Mishra, who hails from Deoria district, served in the Indian Air Force, receiving several military decorations, including the Yudh Seva Medal.

Pandey is an advocate who represented Ram Lalla Virajman in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, while Yadav is a retired college principal and academician.

Giri said Krishna Mohan had played a crucial role in steering the trust through "troubled times".

He said the trust may appoint a joint CEO or deputy CEO if required and would prepare an SOP specifying the CEO's duties and responsibilities.

"We have to make Ayodhya the world's cultural capital. We will not leave any stone unturned for this," he said.