His Grace Sriman Madhu Pandit Dasa – ISKCON Bangalore Temple President
There seems to be a lot of confusion about the court ruling regarding ISKCON Bangalore. The legal language is complicated enough.
So what is the court saying?
“May 24th 2011 Bangalore… The High Court also observed that other activities, organizations or trusts which are functioning from the Hare Krishna Hill premises are not part of this suit and hence their activities should go on unhindered…..ISKCON Bangalore will file an appeal in the Supreme Court shortly after obtaining and studying the order copy. We have full faith in the judiciary of our country and are confident that we will be able to present the case in our favor, said Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON Bangalore.
….After hearing the objections of ISKCON Mumbai to this stay petition, the High Court bench consisting of Justice Nagamohan Das and Justice Arali Nagaraj gave their judgment that a stay was not maintainable as the members of ISKCON Bangalore are managing a branch of ISKCON Mumbai. Hence, a restraining order was given as above in order to facilitate the smooth functioning of the various activities of ISKCON Bangalore and to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.”
23. May 2011…… However, Iskcon Bangalore will pursue its case within the legal framework and will appeal against this decision in the Supreme Court.
We have full faith in the judiciary of our country and are confident that we will be able to present the case in our favour.”
So this is far from over, it will continue in the Supreme Court, which is situated in New Delhi.
Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore to go on appeal
Battles may be lost but war for Srila Prabhupada will be won
Bangalore, 23 May 2011. The divisional bench of the High Court of Karnataka gave its verdict on the appeal filed by ISKCON Mumbai. Honorable Justice H M Nagamohan Das and Honorable Justice Arali Nagaraj today gave their verdict on appeal filed by ISKCON Mumbai and set aside the Civil court’s judgement.
However, ISKCON Bangalore will pursue its case within the legal framework and will appeal against this decision in the Supreme Court. We have full faith in the judiciary of our country and are confident that we will be able to present the case in our favor.
It may be recalled that the City Trial court of Bangalore had given a judgment on April 17, 2009 stating that ISKCON Bangalore is the absolute owner of Sri Radha Krishna temple on Hare Krishna Hill. The Honorable Civil Court judge had also declared that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity and further restrained ISKCON Mumbai, their agents or representatives from interfering in the affairs of ISKCON, Bangalore by granting a permanent injunction.
(Annexure 1(1) – copy of the order, Annexure 1(2)– copy of the order)
Unfortunately, the Honorable High Court today set aside this 350 page judgement and gave its verdict overruling the earlier order.
The genesis of this dispute between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore is related to the spiritual succession of the movement founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada had taught from the Vedic literatures that an Acharya plays a prime role in the development of Krishna bhakti in the heart of a disciple. In order to play that role of an Acharya, one must have extraordinary spiritual qualifications and purity.
Just months before his physical departure from this world Srila Prabhupada instituted a rtvik system of initiation thro’ a written directive sent to all its GBC’s and Presidents on July 9th 1977.
(Annexure 2(1) Annexure 2(2))
He made it clear in this written directive that he remained the diksa guru or the acharya of ISKCON and that his disciples acting as his representatives or rtviks would initiate new disciples as disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON Mumbai which is predominantly controlled by foreigners who are themselves voted in unauthorized gurus has disregarded this particular instruction and has manufactured its own system of succession. ISKCON Bangalore on the other hand tries to follow this and many other directives of the founder and acharya of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada strictly.
The ISKCON Bangalore society was registered by one of the pre-1977 disciples of Srila Prabhupada named Shankabrit Dasa in the year 1978 as per the Karnataka Societies registration act 1960. Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa later on in 1984 took over from Shanka Brit Dasa as the President of ISKCON Bangalore and under his leadership the temple complex on Hare Krishna Hill was built and inaugurated in 1997. In 2001 some of the fanatic disciples of ISKCON Mumbai physically stormed the temple of ISKCON Calcutta. Sri Adhridharan Dasa the President of ISKCON Kolkata was ousted from his services as he was a strong proponent of the rtvik system of initiations.
(Copies of news paper report on storming the temple – Annexure3(1), Annexure3(2)
Knowing that the fanatic followers of the unauthorized gurus will try to similarly storm the temple and harass the devotees and disturb the various initiatives of ISKCON Bangalore, we discussed with legal experts and concluded that legal recourse was unavoidable and only solution for protecting the legacy of Srila Prabhupada and his movement from these gurus and there fanatic followers.
ISKCON Bangalore (registered in 1978) approached the courts to restrain ISKCON Mumbai from interfering in the affairs of ISKCON Bangalore. The then Honorable Judge of the High Court Justice A M Farooq gave his verdict on the interim application and passed interim order restraining ISKCON Mumbai(registered in 1971) from interfering with the affairs of ISKCON Bangalore on April 20th 2002. In his order he said “ There shall be an order of temporary injunction as prayed for by the plaintiff(ISKCON Bangalore)the respondent defendants (ISKCON Mumbai)… are hereby restrained from interfering with the plaintiff’s peaceful possession of the suit properties…”
(order copy enclosed, Annexure4)
ISKCON Mumbai went on appeal against this interim order to the Supreme Court, which gave its verdict that it will not interfere with the High Court’s order and that it will maintain the interim order. Honorable Justices VN Khare and Ashok Bhan said in the verdict “In view of the fact that the interim injunction has been passed pending hearing of the suit we are not inclined to interfere in the matter.”
(Order copy enclosed, Annexure5(1), Annexure5(2), Annexure5(3) )
The City Civil court later heard the main civil suit on a day to day to hearing and perused close to 700 documents submitted by both parties and gave it final verdict on April 17, 2009 stating that ISKCON Bangalore is the absolute owner of Sri Radha Krishna temple on Hare Krishna hill. The Honorable Civil Court judge also had opined that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity. The civil court had further restrained ISKCON Mumbai or their agents or representatives from interfering in the affairs of ISKCON, Bangalore by granting a permanent injunction.
(Annexure 1(1) – copy of the order, Annexure 1(2)– copy of the order ).
Today the divisional bench of the High court, presided by Honorable Justice Nagamohan Das and Justice Arali Nagaraj, after hearing the various arguments about the city civil courts’ orders by both sides gave its final verdict and set aside the civil court’s order April 17th 2009.
For ISKCON Bangalore, this is not a fight for properties but a sincere effort to re-establish Srila Prabhupada as the sole acharya or diksha guru of ISKCON. We are confident that truth will prevail and by the mercy of Sri Radha Krishna-chandra, our services to Their Lordships will continue unhindered.
Battles may be lost but war for Srila Prabhupada will be won
Fools think that Srila Prabhupada’s legacy has come to an end, but only sane know that it has just begun. –
Thanks,
RK Yadav
Srila Prabhupada shall remain to be the sole initiating spiritual master in ISKCON and these gurus will not be able to do anything. Time will soon smash them.
Right, why is the Karnataka court ruling in favor of people who say acharyas are sex perverts and child molesters? ys pd
http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-does-karnataka-court-favor.html
What’s confusing? That the ruse is up and that it’s not just ISKCON devotees that don’t buy the rhetoric that’s pumped out by these ritvik types who are so desperate to justify their existence?
Start your own movement if you disagree with the direction that the GBC have taken. Don’t try to steal ISKCON’s property. This is the height of “aham mameti” – to assume that “I am the bonafide ISKCON” such that I should be allowed to control this property which I have worked hard to build up (even though it is clearly the legal property of another entity whose bonafide I question). It is the height of fruitive work, attachment, etc.
Madhu and his friends have chosen to adopt a different understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings from the GBC. If they’re so convinced of their rightness then they should be confident of Krsna’s support for their starting something new. Why feel the need to try to claim ownership of the temple? This apasampradaya (Madhu and co) will soon fade into insignificance once it stops trying TP borrow or steal authority from ISKCON.
When we already have something with us which was created by us without even a single paisa from the accounts of so-called gurus and GBC, why should we allow that to be stolen by you all and the so-called GBC?
Take in writing GBC shall never get hold of this beautiful temple and they will keep missing for their lifetime the punch of this temple’s beauty.
If your GBC is so powerful, why not you all create one more temple like this one and show. This is a challenge to the entire GBC. Let all the GBC all across the globe unite and build this temple. Let us see.
Very nice ‘JOKE’ :))) enjoyed reading it !
pamho agtACBSP don’t worry prabhus bangalore temple is directely protected by SRILA PRABHUPADA and whoever try to take over will be smashed as happen to jps and the followers will get the same destination if they do not surrender to the final order ys seva das haribol
So many of the ITS GON GBC and gurus are too busy stealing money from ISKCON for their own pockets and bank accounts, so how can they build a temple of this magnitude?
As far as Mujibar goes: You asked “What’s confusing?” Seems that you’re confused regarding the GBC’s deviations (on all levels) from Srila Prabhupada’s desires, along with their changing that which Srila Prabhupada Himself had lawyers draw up as legal documents regarding how Srila Prabhupada set up ISKCON and how He, Srila Prabhupada, wanted things managed.
I’m not speaking anything regarding ritvik / non-ritvik. I’m speaking about GBC deviations on all levels from that which Srila Prabhupada wanted and directed. Even while Srila Prabhupada was present, He had to directly intervene to try to deal with the nonsense of such GBC people, including Srila Prabhupada’s several times putting a “hold” on the GBC because of their causing such problems with their nonsense.
It is the GBC and many ITS A CON “gurus” who have usurped Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, STOLEN so much money, pushed out so many genuine devotees who had dedicated their life, wealth, intelligence and words to serving Srila Prabhupada. It was certain GBC (and gurus) who poisoned Srila Prabhupada (and poisoned HIS ISKCON, transforming it into the DEVIATED ITS A CON (or ITS GON) that it is today). I don’t know where you live, or what you don’t know, although from your statements you obviously don’t know much of what’s gone on regarding ISKCON, but in the North American temples, there are VERY FEW people living in the temple, other than people who come from India or Eastern Europe, because of desire for getting green cards (and money) in exchange for “service,” which is not really service, often enough, their NOT even showing up to “do their service.” Srila Prabhupada specifically spoke AGAINST salaries in these regards.
yad yad acarati srestas… Paid “brahmacaris” – what an INsanity… But people living in the temple are seeing the RICH SINyasis, (another INsanity), and want to follow suit; getting money. Bhakti has INSTEAD become BhUkti, and there is PLENTY of BhUkti now within the ITS GON temples rather than seva-oriented devotees.
The problem is that many “newabees” have NO idea of what it was that Srila Prabhupada wanted, or what was the mood of ISKCON when Srila Prabhupada was present, His PURITY INSPIRING SO MANY devotees with LOVE (NOT FEAR, which is what the present-day GBC rule ITS GON with, having devotees pushed out, beaten, even murdered when they have some question regarding deviations on the part of these people.
Go and read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” and this will give you an idea of what happened to ISKCON.
If you have a genuine sincerity of purpose, regarding serving Srila Prabhupada’s desires and purpose, then Krsna will help your eyes to become opened. Don’t be a blind follower, accepting someone only because they appear to “have a position”.
Srila Prabhupada is NOT happy (AT ALL) with what the GBC is doing. I can ASSURE!!! you of this.
Your servant,
B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna
Hari Bol,
I liked your comment.
Varada krishna dasa is so much fuming on the TV channel {TV anchor also supporting him- it looks like that) he is taking revenge(Personal grudge) on Bangalore devotees. He only says FRAUD,FAMILY, COURT JUDGEMENT nothing else. Better Madhu Pandit Dasa or Chanchala pati dasa avoid participate in these type of discussions.
If he is sincere to Krishna and Prabhupada he should not go like this. After all Bangalore Iskcon also spreading KC.
Most amusing part of his story is that his wife is the part of Supervisory committee. If he is concerned so much about family, why then his wife? What qualification does she have?
Right, why is the Karnataka court ruling in favor of people who say acharyas are sex perverts and child molesters? ys pd