LUCKNOW Face-to-face interviews for the post of the first full-time CEO of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust concluded on Wednesday with the high-powered search committee wrapping up the process for 16 shortlisted candidates.
Announcing the completion, Sameer Panda, secretary of the search committee, said the process was “rigorous, transparent and comprehensive” and spanned multiple stages over several months.
The three-member panel comprised Justice (retd) Pramod Kohli, Lt Gen (retd) VK Chaturvedi, PVSM, AVSM, SM, and nuclear scientist Dr Suresh Haware. “Their collective expertise spans defence, judiciary and administration, bringing diverse perspectives to evaluate candidates for this institution of national and international significance,” Panda said.
Among prominent candidates who appeared before the panel were senior police officer of Bihar, DG (Civil Defence), Dr Paresh Saxena, a trained medical practitioner holding MBBS and MD (Medicine) degrees and IPS officer Rajesh Pandey of Uttar Pradesh, who retired as inspector general, Bareilly.
According to Trust sources, Pandey was asked to suggest ways to improve operations of the Ram Temple. Since 2022, he held charge as chief security officer of the UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority, which oversees expressways projects in the state. He is also secretary of Lucknow’s historic Hanuman Mandir, Aliganj, which witnesses a huge turnout of devotees on festive occasions.
Counted among the most successful police officers of the UP cadre, Rajesh Pandey had played a pivotal role in the encounter of dreaded gangster Shri Prakash Shukla. In a career spanning three-decades, he was the founder member of the STF constituted during the tenure of former CM Kalyan Singh to eliminate Shukla whose reign of terror ran large across UP and Bihar.
{{/usCountry}}Counted among the most successful police officers of the UP cadre, Rajesh Pandey had played a pivotal role in the encounter of dreaded gangster Shri Prakash Shukla. In a career spanning three-decades, he was the founder member of the STF constituted during the tenure of former CM Kalyan Singh to eliminate Shukla whose reign of terror ran large across UP and Bihar.
{{/usCountry}}According to the committee, 5,585 applications were received in the first round. Of these, 3,877 candidates submitted CVs detailing management capabilities, experience in handling large-scale events and personnel, language proficiency, vision and strategic plans.
In round two, 1,580 applications were evaluated in detail and 111 candidates were called for online interactions to assess communication skills, leadership qualities, professional experience and technological acumen.
Finally, 16 professionals aged between 50 and 70 were invited for personal interaction in Ayodhya. They represented less than 0.3% of all applicants and comprised Army veterans, retired IAS and IPS officers and experts from government, corporate, education and IT sectors.
“The evaluation focused on management skills, personality, vision, strategic planning, technology expertise and leadership potential. All 16 are accomplished professionals and significant achievers in their respective fields,” said Panda.
The search committee will now submit its report along with a list of three candidates’ names to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Trust will conduct the final round of interviews and announce the CEO.
The CEO will be responsible for the day-to-day administration, crowd management and overall functioning of the Ram Mandir complex, which sees thousands of devotees daily.
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