After a legal battle that stretched for 25 years between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore, the Supreme Court has granted a verdict which wholly entitles ISKCON Bangalore as the legal owner of the Bangalore Temple. Through this article we will get an understanding about why the dispute took place between the temples and how it stretched in court for these many years.
ISKCON Bangalore is a society which was started to propagate Krishna consciousness in Karnataka. ISKCON Bangalore had been set up as a registered society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act. Thus giving it the authority to function as an independent body.
ISKCON Bangalore got the requisite land allotted in 1998 by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
Where and how the Dispute Began The seeds of the dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai were sown in 2001 when ISKCON Bangalore filed case number 7934/2001 in the Bangalore City Civil Court. The crux of the petition was that ISKCON Bangalore be recognised as an independent society which is managed by its own community. Also ISKCON Bangalore should be allowed to conduct its activities free from ISKCON Mumbai’s intervention.
Civil Court Judgement, 2009 After umpteen number of court trips and hearings, which stretched for nine long years, in 2009, the judgement was given in favor of ISKCON Bangalore that the Hare Krishna Hill temple at Rajajinagar was to be managed by the local administration and ISKCON Mumbai will have no role to play in the running of the temple.
Reversal by High Court, 2011 With the verdict not in ISKCON Mumbai’s favor, an appeal was made to the Karnataka High Court (RFA No. 421/2009). ISKCON Mumbai proclaimed that ISKCON Bangalore comes under ISKCON Mumbai’s umbrella and that it is merely a branch of ISKCON Mumbai.
On 23rd May, 2011, the Karnataka High court overruled the Civil Court judgement on the grounds that ISKCON Bangalore had not proven it was an independent entity.
Intervention by the Supreme Court, 2011 A special leave petition was filed by ISKCON Bangalore in the Supreme Court (SLP No. 15814/2011). Looking at the complex nature of the case, on 6th June 2011, the court passed an interim order which maintained status quo (keeping things the way they currently are, without making changes until a final decision is made). The deadlock over temple administration led to mediation between the two parties in an effort to resolve the dispute amicably.
Five Rounds of Mediation between the two Parties Justice RV Raveendran was appointed as arbitrator by ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore. The five rounds of mediation took place between 3 April 2012 and mid-2013.
The five rounds of mediation took place as follows: Full Control rests with ISKCON Mumbai ISKCON Mumbai proposed Bangalore’s ISKCON temple to come under their control. ISKCON Bangalore were fine but only had one counter condition to this, Srila Prabhupada must remain the sole initiating guru at ISKCON, with written assurance to the Supreme Court.
The Proposal failed.
Dual President System ISKCON Mumbai proposed a separate president for ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai and finance portfolio under Mumbai, Deity worship duties with Bangalore. ISKCON Bangalore accepted but Srila Prabhupada should be sole initiator.
The proposal was rejected.
Mumbai also controls all of ISKCON Bangalore’s properties ISKCON Mumbai wanted full control of all ISKCON Properties in Karnataka. ISKCON Bangalore was ready but Srila Prabhupada should be sole initiator.
It did not yield fruit.
All Temple Properties of ISKCON Bangalore come under ISKCON Mumbai’s Control A plan was made to ISKCON Bangalore to bring all its temples under ISKCON Mumbai’s ambit.
ISKCON Bangalore said yes but maintained its stance on Srila Prabhupada being the sole initiator for ISKCON.
It was not successful.
Leadership of ISKCON Bangalore Resign ISKCON Mumbai proposed the ISKCON Bangalore leadership Bangalore’s President (Sri Madhu Pandit Prabhu) and Vice-President (Sri Chanchalapathi Prabhu) give up their posts.
ISKCON Bangalore agreed on this but did not give up on Srila Prabhupada being the sole initiator.
Thus, the mediation entirely broke down.
From the mediation rounds it was clear that ISKCON Bangalore were ready to give up their property to ISKCON Mumbai but were not backing down on the principle that Srila Prabhupada is and will remain the sole initiating guru at ISKCON Bangalore.
It was never, only – a property dispute. ISKCON Mumbai portrayed it that way—but at the heart of the matter was something far significant.
ISKCON Bangalore stood firm on Srila Prabhupada’s original instructions—that he alone is the sole initiating spiritual master for all ISKCON devotees, then, now, and in the future.
For years, this core belief was challenged, misrepresented, and entangled in legal battles over control and ownership. But on May 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark verdict—recognizing ISKCON Bangalore as the rightful and independent governing body of its temples.