Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust to Convene Amid Donation Theft Controversy

Upcoming Meeting of the Ram Temple Trust

In Ayodhya, the Ram Temple Trust is set to hold a meeting on July 6 to deliberate on its future actions following the resignation of two prominent members amid a donation theft scandal. Initially, VHP leader Alok Kumar had indicated that the meeting would occur on July 7, but sources have confirmed it has been moved up by one day.

Champat Rai, the Trust's general secretary, and trustee Anil Mishra have both stepped down. The agenda will include discussions regarding their resignations, with insiders suggesting that acceptance of these resignations is quite likely.

Rai, who also serves as the vice president of the VHP, plays a crucial role in the Trust, which was established in 2020 to oversee the construction and management of the Ram temple following the Supreme Court's ruling on the Ayodhya dispute.

Should the resignations be approved, the Trust will have three vacant positions, one of which has been unfilled for nearly a year due to the passing of member Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra.

Trust Chairman Mahant Nrityagopaldas and member K Parasaran, along with several other trustees, are currently inactive due to health issues and age. Consequently, if the Trust undergoes restructuring, new candidates may be proposed to fill these roles.

Sources indicate that if the central government decides to appoint a CEO for the Trust, amendments to the bylaws will be necessary.

Legal experts assert that appointing a CEO without revising the Trust's governing rules is not feasible.

The VHP has expressed support for the idea of appointing a CEO to manage the Temple Trust, with discussions already surrounding the potential candidacy of Nripendra Mishra, the Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, as well as retired IAS officer Yogeshwar Ram Mishra.