Top court agrees to review veredict on ISKCON Bangalore temple ownership

In a recent legal development concerning the management of the ISKCON temple in Bengaluru, the Supreme Court of India has agreed to revisit its previous decision regarding ownership.

The move reopens the May 16 decision that had initially placed control of the seven-acre temple with the Bengaluru faction, overturning a previous Karnataka High Court ruling that favoured the Mumbai faction. A three-judge bench has issued notice on a review petition filed by ISKCON Mumbai, which claims sole right over the temple, and set the matter for further hearing on January 22.

Below is a news clipping detailing the development, followed by a full transcription of the article text.

Article Transcription

Top court agrees to review verdict on Iskcon B’luru temple ownership

Abraham Thomas
letters@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to revisit its decision passed in May this year that put the reins of Iskcon’s Bengaluru temple with the organisation’s Bengaluru faction, trumping a Karnataka high court decision that had ruled in favour of the Iskcon’s Mumbai faction.

Reopening the May 16 decision, a three-judge bench headed by justice MM Sundresh issued notice on the review petition filed by Iskcon Mumbai, which claimed sole right over the temple.

The bench, also comprising justices PK Mishra and Satish Chandra Sharma, asked the Iskcon Bengaluru faction to respond to the review plea and kept the matter for further hearing on January 22.

THE PLEA CAME TO BE LISTED BEFORE A THREE-JUDGE BENCH AFTER AN EARLIER BENCH OF THE TOP COURT IN NOVEMBER GAVE A SPLIT VERDICT

The review plea came to be listed before a three-judge bench after an earlier bench of the top court last month gave a split verdict on whether to entertain the review petition. The review petition was placed before a bench of justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih. Incidentally, the May 16 judgment was given by a bench of justice Abhay S Oka (since retired) and justice Masih.

The two factions have hotly contested their claims over the seven-acre temple in Bengaluru with a trial court in April 2009 deciding cross-suits filed by the two factions in favour of Iskcon Bengaluru. Later, on appeal, the Karnataka high court set aside the trial court verdict and by a detailed judgment gave control over the Bengaluru temple to the Mumbai faction. This led to the Bengaluru faction appealing to the Supreme Court.