Supreme Court favors ISKCON Bangalore in temple control dispute with ISKCON Mumbai

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court has allowed ISKCON Bangalore’s appeal, effectively restoring its control over the iconic Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in Bengaluru. The ruling overturns a Karnataka High Court judgment that had earlier favored ISKCON Mumbai in the long-standing legal dispute between the two factions.

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A bench of Justices AS Oka and Augustine George Masih delivered the verdict, marking the culmination of a legal battle that began over a decade ago. ISKCON Bangalore had approached the top court on June 2, 2011, challenging the High Court’s May 23, 2011 decision that overturned a 2009 Bengaluru trial court order.

The trial court had previously ruled in favor of ISKCON Bangalore, recognizing its independent legal status and granting a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. However, the High Court reversed this, siding with ISKCON Mumbai’s counterclaim, which asserted that ISKCON Bangalore was merely a subordinate branch and that the temple property fell under Mumbai’s jurisdiction.

ISKCON Bangalore, registered in Karnataka, has consistently maintained that it functions autonomously and has been managing the temple independently for decades. In contrast, ISKCON Mumbai, registered under national statutes, claimed overarching authority.

The Supreme Court’s verdict now upholds ISKCON Bangalore’s autonomy, settling the complex legal and organizational tussle that has persisted for years between two spiritually aligned yet administratively divided entities.