New Delhi: In a significant ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court of India determined that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru is owned by the ISKCON Society of Bengaluru.
This landmark decision came as the Supreme Court upheld the appeal filed by ISKCON Bangalore, which challenged a previous order from the Karnataka High Court that favored ISKCON Mumbai regarding control of the renowned Hare Krishna temple and its associated educational complex in Bengaluru.
The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih. ISKCON Bangalore had approached the Supreme Court on June 2, 2011, contesting the high court’s ruling issued on May 23, 2011.
In its appeal, ISKCON Bangalore, represented by office-bearer Kodandarama Dasa, argued against the high court’s decision, which had overturned a 2009 ruling by a local Bengaluru court. The trial court had previously recognized ISKCON Bangalore’s legal title to the temple and granted a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai.
However, the high court’s reversal of this ruling favored ISKCON Mumbai, granting them control over the temple, which sparked a protracted legal battle between the two organizations, both of which share similar names and spiritual missions.
ISKCON Bangalore, a society registered in Karnataka, asserts that it has been independently operating and managing the Bengaluru temple for several decades. In contrast, ISKCON Mumbai, registered under the national Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the Bombay Public Trusts Act of 1950, claims that ISKCON Bangalore is merely a branch of its organization and that the property in question rightfully falls under its jurisdiction.
