Supreme Court Rules ISKCON Bangalore Owns Hare Krishna Temple

The Supreme Court has ruled that ISKCON Bangalore is the rightful owner of the iconic Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru, ending a 24-year-old legal battle with ISKCON Mumbai over the property and management rights.

IskconHare Krishna TempleSupreme CourtLegal DisputeBengaluruReal Estate MumbaiMay 17, 2025

Supreme Court Rules ISKCON Bangalore Owns Hare Krishna Temple
Real Estate Mumbai:The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that ISKCON Bangalore was the rightful owner of the iconic Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru, ending a 24-year-old legal dispute with ISKCON Mumbai over the ownership and control of the temple and its associated property. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed ISKCON Bangalore’s appeal, setting aside a 2011 judgment by the Karnataka high court that had ruled in favor of ISKCON Mumbai. The court stated that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity and that the society cannot be treated as a branch of ISKCON Mumbai. ISKCON Mumbai was founded in 1966 by Srila Prabhupada and is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. It claimed that ISKCON Bangalore, registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act in July 1978, was its branch and that the temple property belonged to the Mumbai society. In 2001, ISKCON Bangalore filed a suit seeking declarations that it was the absolute owner of the property in question, that ISKCON Mumbai had no authority over its affairs, and that Mumbai-based office bearers be permanently restrained from interfering. In 2009, the trial court ruled in favor of ISKCON Bangalore, recognizing its ownership and granting it a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. The court also dismissed ISKCON Mumbai’s claim that Bangalore was merely a branch office and that the Mumbai society had rights over both properties. However, in 2011, the Karnataka high court reversed the trial court’s decision, holding that ISKCON Bangalore was a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and that the temple property belonged to the latter. The Supreme Court’s verdict restores the decree passed by the trial court and affirms ISKCON Bangalore’s independent status. ISKCON Bangalore hailed the court’s judgment. “In essence, ISKCON Mumbai has been injuncted from interfering with the management of ISKCON Bengaluru. They can no longer expel from ISKCON, thousands of devotees who want to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON,” Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON Bangalore, said in a statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded ISKCON Mumbai? A: ISKCON Mumbai was founded in 1966 by Srila Prabhupada. Q: When did ISKCON Bangalore file the suit? A: ISKCON Bangalore filed the suit in 2001. Q: What did the Karnataka high court rule in 2011? A: In 2011, the Karnataka high court ruled that ISKCON Bangalore was a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and that the temple property belonged to the latter. Q: What was the Supreme Court's final verdict? A: The Supreme Court ruled that ISKCON Bangalore is the rightful owner of the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru, affirming its independent status. Q: What does Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON Bangalore, say about the judgment? A: Madhu Pandit Dasa stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment means ISKCON Mumbai can no longer interfere with the management of ISKCON Bengaluru and cannot expel devotees who accept Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON.

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