New Delhi, 3 DEC

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a petition from ISKCON India seeking a review of its May 16 ruling, which asserted that the Hare Krishna temple in the City belongs to the city's faction of ISKCON. A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to the Bengaluru faction and other parties involved in the dispute.

The apex court's May ruling overturned a 2011 Karnataka High Court decision that had granted temple control to ISKCON Mumbai. The ongoing legal tussle between the Mumbai and Bengaluru factions dates back over 25 years. Notably, Justice JK Maheshwari has indicated an interest in the review, while Justice AG Masih dismissed the petitions, citing a lack of apparent error in the previous judgment.

Yudhistir Govinda Das, Director of Communications for ISKCON India, stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision to reopen this matter is significant for the protection of Srila Prabhupada’s global mission. It is unfortunate what has happened that few individuals have tried to usurp the assets, including the Bengaluru temple." The Supreme Court had previously highlighted the absence of evidence from ISKCON Mumbai to support its claims.