SC rules ISKCON-Bangalore owner of Hare Krishna hill temple

The apex court found the High Court’s conclusion that ISKCON-Mumbai owned the temple through its branch in Bangalore “completely erroneous” and “contrary to the documentary evidence”

The Supreme Court on Friday, in a judgment, set aside a Karnataka High Court finding that ISKCON Mumbai was the owner of the iconic Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore.

A Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih upheld a trial court verdict that ISKCON-Bangalore was the owner of the temple and properties, thus bringing to a close a nearly 25-year-old dispute between the two religious bodies.

‘Completely erroneous’

The apex court found the High Court’s conclusion that ISKCON-Mumbai owned the temple through its branch in Bangalore “completely erroneous” and “contrary to the documentary evidence”.

“Even assuming that ISKCON Bangalore did not possess funds, and even if money came from ISKCON Mumbai, it cannot claim ownership. Only because the existence of the Bangalore branch of ISKCON Mumbai was proved, one cannot jump to the conclusion that allotment of Schedule ‘A’ (temple) property was to ISKCON Mumbai through the Bangalore branch,” Justice Oka, who authored the judgment, concluded

Justice Oka observed that the trial court had arrived at its findings after a detailed consideration of the evidence that the scheduled properties were owned by ISKCON Bangalore.

No evidence produced

“The trial court also recorded a finding that no evidence was produced by ISKCON Mumbai about its possession of the Schedule ‘A’ property. There is absolutely no evidence to support that claim,” the apex court agreed.

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, had contested the High Court judgment that overturned the 2009 order of the trial court.

Dissolution of panel

With the dispute now resolved, the Supreme Court, in its directions on Friday, ordered the dissolution of its committee headed by former apex court judge, Justice R.V. Raveendran, within a month. The Justice Raveendran panel had been tasked by the apex court with the monitoring of the temple management.

Published - May 16, 2025 11:19 pm IST