Ram Temple Trust meet today; Champat Rai's fate, SIT report on agenda

New Delhi: With alleged irregularities in donations collected at the Ram temple in Ayodhya emerging as a major political issue ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, all eyes are on the crucial meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust scheduled for Monday.

The meeting is expected to decide the fate of the trust's general secretary, Champat Rai, and member Anil Mishra, who have recently resigned from their respective positions in the trust.

Members of the trust may also be briefed on the preliminary report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Uttar Pradesh government on June 23. The state government had constituted a three-member SIT to probe allegations of irregularities in the handling of donation money following a request from the trust.


Although trust functionaries have remained tight-lipped about the agenda, issues like the future management of the temple, the audit report, and the financial statements for 2025-26 are expected to be discussed. Members may also raise other important issues during the meeting.

The trust has a sanctioned strength of 15 members, including four ex-officio members. Following the death of Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the former King of Ayodhya, one seat remains vacant in the trust. If the trust accepts the resignations of Rai and Anil Mishra, the number of vacancies in the trust will rise to three.

Speculation is also rife about a possible reconstitution of the trust. "If Champat Rai and Anil Mishra exit the trust, it will automatically pave the way for its reconstitution," a source in Ayodhya said.

The meeting may also discuss the appointment of a chief executive officer (CEO) to ensure the smooth functioning of the temple's administration. "This is an important issue and there may be a discussion on the need for a CEO," a source based in Ayodhya said.