Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra , who was recently awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for ‘Operation Sindoor’, and retired from the Air Force just a few months ago, arrived in Ayodhya on Friday after being appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Air Marshal Mishra is the Trust’s first CEO.
A total of 5,585 applications were received for the position of CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The appointment of a retired Air Force officer Marshal Mishra as the executive officer of a religious organization has surprised many. Consequently, in political circles, his appointment is being viewed as an attempt to mask the reputational damage caused by the temple donation theft scandal with the ‘military hue’ of an armed forces veteran.
Seven individuals associated with the temple management have already been arrested in connection with the donation theft case and remain in jail. Investigations have revealed various irregularities, including discrepancies in the temple’s donation and contribution accounts. The Trust is also undergoing an overhaul. Against this backdrop, Air Marshal Mishra faces the challenge of rectifying the system while addressing these issues; he has no prior experience in this type of role.
Air Marshal Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Friday to assume his role as the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and visited ‘Vaidehi Bhawan’ to meet the Trust’s Treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj.
Originally hailing from a village in the Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, Marshal Jitendra Mishra served as the Commander of the Indian Air Force’s Western Command from January 2025 to April 30, 2026. He played a pivotal role in ‘Operation Sindoor,’ conducted against Pakistan, and was honored with a medal for his contribution. He joined the Indian Air Force in 1968 and possesses 3,000 hours of flying experience across various types of aircraft, fighter jets, and helicopters.
