The ongoing legal battle of battles between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai may be headed for a decisive turn today. The special leave petition filed by ISKCON Bangalore has been listed to heard by Honorable Supreme Court of India today. Previously also it was listed but was not heard.
ISKCON BANGALORE ISKCON MUMBAI The origin of this battle is we all know related to the succession of the acarya post the physical disappearance of the founder and acharya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON Mumbai and its followers have instituted an unauthorized voting system for choosing the successor acarya to Srila Prabhupada under which over eighty odd self made gurus initiate disciples and are worshipped as sakshad hari by their disciples. Whereas ISKCON Bangalore devotees follow the July 9th Directive of Prabhupada, and accept Srila Prabhupada himself as the sole acarya and diksa guru of ISKCON even after his physical departure.
This theological difference took the form of a property dispute when some of the fanatic followers of one of the self made gurus of ISKCON, Jaya Pataka Swami tried to oust some of the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore from the services in Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore.
Seeing no alternative other than taking legal recourse, In 2001 ISKCON Bangalore filed a suit seeking to restrain ISKCON Mumbai and its self made guru camp from interfering in its affairs.
Interim orders were granted in favour of ISKCON Bangalore by the High court which was later further accepted by the Supreme Court in 2004 with some riders. In 2009 on April 17th, Civil Court gave a permanent injunction stating the ISKCON Bangalore registered in Karnataka (society registration no S-49(78-79)) is indeed an independent society and that ISKCON Mumbai should not interfere. ISKCON Mumbai appealed to the High court of Karnataka and the Honorable High court of Karnataka ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai. ISKCON Bangalore filed a special leave petition against the High court’s verdict. The Honorable Supreme court had passed an interim status quo order directing that ISKCON Bangalore society should continue to
manage the temple on Hare Krishna Hill many months ago.
The legal battle is crucial for all ISKCON followers who are looking practice the July 9th directive of Srila Prabhupada within the ISKCON society. The self made gurus of ISKCON have banned any initiations following the July 9th letter calling it a heresy. The various court orders passed had been protecting the ISKCON Bangalore from falling into the hands of the bogus guru camp.
So the proceedings of this case of huge bearing on ISKCON as a whole and ISKCON Bangalore in particular.
We request all devotees to pray to Krishna to protect the Bangalore yatra from falling into the hands of self made gurus of ISKCON.
One may recall that in 1972 during the month of April Srila Prabhupada had written letters to all temple presidents of ISKCON to disregard the instructions of the GBC: “…I AUTHORIZE YOU TO DISREGARD FOR THE TIME BEING ANY DECISION FROM THE GBC MEN UNTIL MY FURTHER INSTRUCTION.
You manage your affairs peacefully and independently, and try to improve the spiritual atmosphere of the centers more carefully.
I shall be very glad to know the names of your assistants such as Secretary, Treasurer and Accountant. Finally, I beg to repeat that ALL GBC ORDERS ARE SUSPENDED HEREWITH BY ME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.” (Srila Prabhupada in a letter to all presidents dated 8th April 1972, Sydney) This letter was sent to all temple presidents when the GBC tried to appoint Sri Atreya Rsi Dasa as a member secretary to the GBC without approval from Srila Prabhupada., the GBC at that time had tried to bring in many changes without consulting the devotees. Srila Prabhupada under this condition sent the letter disbanding the GBC which he himself had previously authorized.
The current GBC which is predominantly under the control of the self appointed Gurus has done bigger blunders than appointing a devotee as GBC without approval. It has been propping up fallen so-called self made gurus and regimenting that ISKCON devotees worship them as good as good. If he were physically present, Srila Prabhupada would have definitely disbanded this bogus self made GBC and asked everyone to take shelter of him directly.
The various orders in the court ensured that the self made guru camp will not be able interfere in ISKCON Bangalore. This has given thousands of devotees the opportunity to accept Srila Prabhupada as their guru and stay and serve within ISKCON. Various activities of ISKCON have blossomed under direct shelter of Srila Prabhupada.
So a lot is at stake so we all should just pray to their Lordships and await His wish.
The following are possible scenarios Scenario-1 – It might not come up for hearing Even though listed it may not come up for hearing as it has happened for the past several times.
In which case the interim status quo order continues everything continues as is till the next order the court.
Scenario-2 – Hearing starts Comes up for hearing and the apex court hears it in part and schedules date for another
hearing.
Scenario-3 – Grant Leave Apex court hears both sides and admits the Special Leave Petition of ISKCON Bangalore i.e. grants leave. This would stay the High Court order and the case would be heard in due course by the Supreme Court.
Scenario-4 – Dismisses ISKCON Bangalore’s petition Apex court hears both sides and dismisses the petition of ISKCON Bangalore.
Devotees of ISKCON world will be waiting with bated breath today morning to see what the Lord holds to them in future.