- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark decision in favor of ISKCON Bangalore in the long-standing legal battle over the ownership and management of the famed Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru. The ruling has been praised by the President of ISKCON Bangalore.
The verdict resolves a 25-year dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai, confirming that the temple and its assets are owned by the Karnataka-registered ISKCON Bangalore society. The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, overturned a previous Karnataka High Court verdict that had favored ISKCON Mumbai.
The apex court reinstated the 2009 trial court ruling, which recognized ISKCON Bangalore’s legal claim to the temple and issued a permanent injunction preventing ISKCON Mumbai from interfering with its affairs.
Calling the judgment “historic,” Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON Bangalore, stated that the ruling validates their longstanding position and aligns with the spiritual guidance of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada. He clarified that the core issue has always been ideological—centered on Prabhupada’s directive that his disciples should be representatives, rather than pursuing the appointment of successor gurus, a stance supported by ISKCON Bangalore but contested by ISKCON Mumbai.
The legal confrontation started when ISKCON Mumbai claimed control over ISKCON Bangalore’s assets, asserting that all properties came under a central society’s authority. However, ISKCON Bangalore maintained it is an independent society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, with the Bengaluru temple land allotted specifically to its jurisdiction by the Bangalore Development Authority.
Advocate Vikas Singh Jangra, representing ISKCON Bangalore, told IANS that the court’s decision marks a significant 25-year legal victory, emphasizing the recognition of their independent status. This ruling affirms ISKCON Bangalore’s ownership of the Bengaluru temple and related properties.
The verdict also affirms ISKCON Bangalore’s ongoing work, including managing over 24 temples across India and the Akshaya Patra Foundation, which feeds more than 2.2 million children daily. The organization also oversees major projects such as Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir.
Madhu Pandit Dasa expressed that the judgment allows ISKCON Bangalore to continue expanding its spiritual and charitable activities under the ISKCON umbrella. To maintain ideological clarity, the group plans to operate under the name ISKCON-Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON-HKM), with Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya.
