The ongoing legal dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai came up today for hearing before the divisional bench of the Supreme Court, comprised of Senior judge Hon’ble Justice Chalameshwar and Hon’ble Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde.
Though the case was listed many times last three weeks before the court, it never came up for hearing. Today, the case came up for hearing at 12’ o clock, the Counsel for ISKCON Mumbai petitioned for some additional time until 2 pm.
It should be ISKCON Bangalore’s counsel and read as follows “At 2 pm when the case started, Iskcon Mumbai sought time to file a new application with regard to few other connected case matters. ISKCON Bangalore’s counsel objected and wanted to start the argument and he also gave two copies of the peace proposal sent in writing by our counsel to their counsel and told the court that we have not received any response from Iskcon Mumbai. ISKCON Bangalore’s Senior Counsel Sri P. P. Rao explained to the honorable Supreme Court on how ISKCON Bangalore complying with the court’s suggestion had already approached ISKCON Mumbai with an offer of a peace proposal. (ISKCON Bangalore had written to ISKCON Mumbai to allow ISKCON Bangalore group of devotees to have freedom for practice of faith of Srila Prabhupada as the Diksha Guru. ISKCON Bangalore also clearly communicated in the peace proposal, how it had no problems in handing over the administration of ISKCON Bangalore to the GBC, only if ISKCON Mumbai accepts the fact that in these temples only Srila Prabhupada is the guru and acharya with rtvik system of initiation as per the July 9th Directive).” ISKCON Mumbai counsel claimed that ISKCON Bangalore did not respond to the call for a meeting in Kolkata called by ISKCON Mumbai. To this the senior judge told in lighter vein that if agreeing on venue for peace is the only issue then the court can pass a judicial order to fix Kurukshetra as the venue. Then he said it looks like Lord wants war and not peace. Iskcon Mumbai counsel said that in the proposal given by ISKCON Bangalore they actually want to
take control of all ISKCON temples in India. ISKCON Bangalore Senior Counsel countered Mumbai’s counsel by asking him to read the peace proposal of ISKCON Bangalore properly (meaning not to misrepresent). He argued that the proposal is fair and seeks to give provision for the each centre to practice and accept Prabhupada as their only guru as per article 25 of the constitution of India.
When the counsel for ISKCON Bangalore wanted to start his arguments the senior judge citing the fact that this case will require considerable deliberation and the upcoming Christmas holidays for the court will interrupt the arguments if it started now, listed the case for hearing as item 1 on the list on 14th January 2015. He also said meanwhile if ISKCON Mumbai wishes they can reply to Iskcon Bangalore’s proposal in writing to which ISKCON Mumbai counsel agreed that they will surely reply. Again senior judge closed by saying that these kind matters are best settled outside the court if possible. If there is no progress the arguments will begin on January 14th and go on continuously day after day 3 days a week till it is finished.
Please await a future series of articles on how the peace proposal has failed due to adamancy of ISKCON gurus.