Supreme Court to Consider Fresh Bench on Bengaluru ISKCON Temple Dispute

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider setting up a fresh Bench to hear a review plea regarding its verdict that held the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to ISKCON Bangalore.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana responded to a request made by counsel representing ISKCON Mumbai. The counsel urged the court to constitute a fresh Bench to resolve the long-pending dispute, noting that the review petition had previously been listed before two separate benches headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Dipankar Datta but had not been listed since. In response, Chief Justice Kant stated that the court would consider the request.

The dispute centers on the ownership and control of the iconic temple and educational complex in Bengaluru. On May 16, 2025, a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih set aside a Karnataka High Court order and ruled that the property belonged to ISKCON Bangalore. The Bench noted that the trial court found no evidence produced by ISKCON Mumbai regarding its possession of the Schedule ‘A’ property, leaving no evidence to back its claim.

Following that decision, ISKCON Mumbai sought a review of the judgment. In November 2025, a Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih delivered a split verdict on the review petition. Justice Maheshwari found that ISKCON Mumbai had made out a case for review and allowed applications for listing the petitions in open court, issuing notice to the parties. Conversely, Justice Masih held that there was no error apparent on the face of the record warranting reconsideration and dismissed the petitions. Due to the split outcome, the matter was directed to be placed before the Chief Justice of India for further directions.

The legal dispute dates back several years. ISKCON Bangalore moved the Supreme Court on June 2, 2011, challenging a May 23, 2011, Karnataka High Court verdict. That High Court ruling had overturned a 2009 Bengaluru trial court order, which had recognized ISKCON Bangalore's legal title and granted a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai.

While ISKCON Bangalore, registered as a society in Karnataka, contended that it has operated independently and managed the Bengaluru temple for decades, ISKCON Mumbai claimed rights over the property under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, asserting that the Bengaluru society was merely a branch.