The Trust had received over 5,000 applications from across the country after inviting applications after the CEO's post was advertised by the Trust last month. (File Photo)Eight of the 16 shortlisted candidates were interviewed on the first day as the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Tuesday started the interview process to select its first chief executive officer (CEO) in the wake of the controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations at the temple.The remaining candidates are scheduled to appear on Wednesday before the selection committee comprising retired Supreme Court judge Justice Pramod Kohli, Lieutenant General (retired) Vishnukant Chaturvedi and Suresh Haware, a retired nuclear scientist and former chairperson of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi.The CEO will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative functioning of the temple and various projects associated with the shrine.Explained | Why the Ram Temple Trust is changing — and how it differs from India’s other major temple bodiesAfter the completion of the interviews, the committee is likely to shortlist three names, and then the Trust will finalise the candidate for the job. The incumbent’s proposed tenure is three years, with remunerations yet be decided.Retired IAS, IPS and military officers are among the shortlisted candidates who have already been interviewed virtually, it is learnt.The candidates were asked to report at the pilgrim facilitation centre in the temple complex with their ID proofs and other documents, sources said.Their details were verified before the personal interviews that began around 11 am. Each interview lasted for nearly half an hour, it is learnt.Story continues below this adThe major focus during Tuesday’s interviews was on the applicants’ professional and administrative experience while questions related to maintaining security in the temple complex were also asked, one of the candidates who appeared on Tuesday said.Also Read | Ayodhya Ram temple now like a ‘small district’, needs dedicated CEO: Panel head Nripendra MishraThe candidates were also asked about their association with social or religious organisations, their understanding of functioning of temples, their association with Hindu religious institutions, sources said.Former IPS officer Rajesh Pandey, who is among the shortlisted candidates, confirmed that he had appeared before the selection panel on Tuesday.A 2003-batch IPS officer and a Prayagraj resident, Pandey, 65, was known for encounters during his service and was promoted from the Provincial Police Service (PPS).Story continues below this adHe served as the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Lucknow, Aligarh, Meerut and Saharanpur districts and was part of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). He was also part of the teams that investigated the 2005 Ayodhya terror attack and the 2006 Varanasi blasts.Also Read | Ram Mandir theft demands deeper accountability — and an institutional overhaulBesides, he has been serving as secretary of the Aliganj Hanuman Mandir in Lucknow since 2022, he said.PTI reported that former Jaunpur district magistrate Dinesh Chandra was also among those interviewed on Tuesday.The Trust had received over 5,000 applications from across the country after inviting applications after the CEO’s post was advertised by the Trust last month. The eligibility criteria included a minimum graduate degree, 50-70 years age and at least 20 years of “executive leadership” experience.Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram