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New Delhi: In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the ISKCON temple located on Hare Krishna Hill in Bengaluru rightfully belongs to ISKCON Society Bengaluru, a society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act.

A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice AG Masih set aside the Karnataka High Court’s earlier judgment which had declared ISKCON-Mumbai as the rightful owner of the property.

The apex court’s ruling puts to rest the long-standing ownership and management dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai.

Affirming the legal and administrative autonomy of ISKCON-Bangalore, the court held that the society is the lawful owner of the Sri Radha Krishna Temple, and ISKCON-Mumbai cannot interfere in its affairs.

The dispute had its roots in the internal differences within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) following the death of its founder Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON-Bangalore, which was established in 1981, had opposed the succession of leadership by Western disciples, leading to a rift with ISKCON-Mumbai.

The matter traversed through various legal forums beginning with the trial court, then the High Court, and finally reaching the Supreme Court. While the High Court had earlier ruled in favour of ISKCON-Mumbai, the Supreme Court has now conclusively overturned that decision, upholding ISKCON-Bangalore’s status as an independent and legitimate entity.

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