Bengaluru Iskcon Temple Belongs To Iskcon Bangalore: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India has pronounced the ISKCON Bangalore able to hold title to the ISKCON temple at Bengaluru, after a very tedious legal battle. The 24-year-old conflict between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore regarding the ownership and administration of the temple complex on Hare Krishna Hills in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, has now been resolved by the latest ruling.

Background of the Dispute

• The matter started in 2001 when ISKCON Bangalore filed an action seeking, inter alia, a declaration that it was the sole owner of the land in Hare Krishna Hills and that ISKCON Mumbai had no right to interfere in its internal affairs. This complaint concerns the management, authority, and lawful possession of the temple and the related cultural complex that was set up in Bengaluru. 
• On August 3, 1988, ISKCON Bangalore, which was registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act in July 1978, claimed to have lawfully acquired land of about six acres from the Bangalore Development Authority. According to it, the Society operated independently as a legal entity and entrusted funds donated by the devotees for building the temple and the cultural complex.
• In contrast, ISKCON Mumbai, which was founded by Srila Prabhupada in 1966 and registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950, claimed that the Bengaluru center had always been a subordinate branch rather than an autonomous organization. Mumbai contended that all of the properties owned by ISKCON Bangalore were, in fact, held in trust for ISKCON Mumbai. 

Trial Court Favours ISKCON Bangalore

• On April 17, 2009, the trial court issued a ruling stating that the Bengaluru society was the sole owner and possessor of the temple property, marking a significant win for ISKCON Bangalore. Additionally, the court prohibited ISKCON Mumbai and its representatives from meddling in Bengaluru society's internal affairs. In addition, ISKCON Mumbai's counterclaim for a permanent injunction against ISKCON Bangalore was denied by the trial court.

High Court Reverses Trial Court Decree

• Nevertheless, the trial court's relief was only temporary. In May 2011, ISKCON Mumbai appealed the trial court's decision to the Karnataka High Court. On May 23, 2011, the High Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the decision of the trial court. It held ISKCON Bangalore only to be a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and, therefore, the Hare Krishna Hills temple complex was the rightful property of ISKCON Mumbai. The High Court further granted an injunction in favor of ISKCON Mumbai against the office-bearers of ISKCON Bangalore. 

Supreme Court Verdict: Final Victory for ISKCON Bangalore

• Justices Abhay S. Oka & Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court of India sat on the bench on May 16, 2025, to render the ruling that put an end to this case. By rejecting the Karnataka High Court's decision, the bench restored the trial court's original verdict in favor of ISKCON Bangalore. 
• The Supreme Court confirmed that ISKCON Bangalore is the sole and legitimate owner of the temple property at Hare Krishna Hills since it is registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act. The ruling effectively reinstated the legal autonomy of the Bengaluru-based organization and prohibited future intervention by ISKCON Mumbai and its affiliates. 

Legal Representatives and Case Details

• The case was registered as Civil Appeal Nos. 9314-9315/2014 and was named "International Society for Krishna Consciousness Bangalore v. International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mumbai and Ors." Advocate Kartik Seth, the Advocate-on-Record (AOR), represented ISKCON Bangalore. 

Implications of the Judgment

• More than just a property ruling, the Supreme Court verdict opens a new chapter for the organizational and administrative independence of religious communities in India. It emphasizes the importance of registering properly under the relevant state laws and reiterates the theory that legally constituted societies have a right to their resources and management if they function independently.
• It further clarifies for administrators and devotees alike that the Bengaluru ISKCON temple shall continue to operate free from any kind of intervention by way of direction from the locally registered society.

The Supreme Court decision has put an end to a protracted dispute of more than two decades beset with complicated questions of legal ownership, administration of religious trust, and organizational independence. Underlining the importance of legal clarity in the administration of religious establishments, ISKCON Bangalore has been entrusted with managing the spiritual and cultural mission of the Hare Krishna Hills temple in Bengaluru. 

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