The Supreme Court on Friday held that the Hare
Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to the Iskcon Society in the city.
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 iconic Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in
Bengaluru.
A bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Augustine
George Masih delivered the verdict.
Iskcon Bangalore had moved the top court on June 2,
2011 challenging the high court's verdict of May 23, 2011.
In the plea, Iskcon Bangalore, represented by its
office-bearer Kodandarama Dasa, contested the high court judgment that
overturned a 2009 order of a local court in Bengaluru.
The trial court had earlier ruled in favour of
Iskcon Bangalore, recognising its legal title and granting a permanent
injunction against Iskcon Mumbai.
However, the high court reversed this ruling and
upheld a counterclaim by Iskcon Mumbai, effectively granting them control over
the temple.
The legal tussle pits two societies with similar
names and spiritual missions against each other.
Iskcon Bangalore, a Karnataka-registered society,
contends 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,
claims that Iskcon Bangalore is merely its branch and that the property in
question rightfully belongs under its jurisdiction.