SC settles long-standing dispute, says Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to ISKCON Society Bangalore

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to the ISKCON Society in the city, overturning a Karnataka High Court judgement that was in favour of ISCKON Mumbai.

The top court allowed the plea of ISKCON Bangalore challenging a Karnataka High Court order that ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai over control of the Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in Bengaluru.

A bench of Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih delivered the verdict.

ISKCON Bangalore had appealed in the top court on June 2, 2011 challenging the high court's verdict of May 23, 2011.

ISCKON Bangalore was represented by its office-bearer Dasa and contested the high court judgment that overturned a 2009 order of a local court in Bengaluru.

Earlier, the trail court had favoured ISKCON Bangalore, recognising its legal title and granting a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai.

However, the high court reversed the ruling and upheld a counterclaim by ISKCON Mumbai, effectively granting them control over the temple.

ISKCON Bangalore, a Karnataka-registered society, contended that it has been operating independently and managing the Bengaluru temple for decades.

ISKCON Mumbai, registered under the national Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, claimed that ISKCON Bangalore is merely its branch and that the property in question rightfully belongs under its jurisdiction.