Ayodhya Ram Temple Introduces Mandatory Police Checks For All Staff Before Appointment

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to conduct 100 per cent verification of all staff working at the Ram temple in Ayodhya as part of strengthened security and administrative measures, sources said on Thursday. The verification exercise will include police verification, character certificates and detailed information about employees and their families. The Trust has sought comprehensive personal and family details from its workforce, including information about family members and relatives. The decision comes as the temple administration reviews its security and operational arrangements amid increased scrutiny following a theft of offerings reported at the temple earlier this year.

Under the new verification process, all employees working at the temple will have to undergo police checks. Character certificates issued by the police will also be mandatory, according to sources. The Trust has sought information extending beyond the employees themselves, with details about their family members and relatives also being collected. The comprehensive nature of the exercise indicates that the administration intends to establish detailed background records for the entire workforce. The measure will cover all staff rather than being restricted to employees holding particular positions, according to the details available.

The decision follows a theft of offerings at the temple that came to light in June this year and subsequently led to an investigation. Eight people were arrested in connection with the case, and all the accused are currently lodged in jail, according to the information provided. Investigators have also filed a 70,000-page chargesheet in the case. The development has added to the security and administrative concerns surrounding the temple, where large numbers of devotees visit and offerings are regularly made. The latest staff verification initiative is part of wider measures being implemented by the Trust following the incident.

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The verification drive is being carried out under the leadership of the temple's newly appointed chief executive officer, retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra. Mishra assumed charge last month as the administration moved to strengthen its organisational structure. His appointment comes at a time when the Trust is undertaking several administrative changes and reviewing the functioning of the temple. The staff verification exercise will require employees to complete the prescribed police checks and submit the required documentation before their credentials and backgrounds can be formally verified.

The temple administration has also undergone a major restructuring alongside the new security measures. Former general secretary Champat Rai and Trust members Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao have been relieved of their responsibilities, according to the information provided. The changes represent a significant reorganisation of the administrative setup at the temple. The restructuring, combined with the appointment of Mishra as chief executive officer, has placed greater emphasis on administrative oversight and security procedures as the Trust manages the day-to-day functioning of the temple.

The requirement for police verification and character certificates is expected to create a more comprehensive personnel-screening system at the temple. Employees will have to provide details requested by the Trust, including information concerning relatives and family members, while police authorities will be responsible for the verification and issuance of character certificates. Such documentation will form part of the records maintained by the temple administration as it seeks to strengthen oversight of its workforce. The move also comes amid efforts to tighten procedures after the theft case and its subsequent investigation.

The latest decision is part of a broader focus on security and administration at the Ram temple following the June theft case. With all staff now set to undergo verification, the Trust is seeking to ensure that personnel records are complete and that employees are subject to formal background checks. The exercise will take place under the leadership of Jitendra Mishra as the newly restructured temple administration implements additional safeguards. The verification process, along with the ongoing investigation into the theft and the wider administrative changes, marks a significant tightening of personnel and security procedures at the Ayodhya temple.

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