The Bangalore chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an order that had put a status quo of all its affairs.
“Since there is an order of status quo on the entire property of Bangalore chapter, we can’t take any decision,” senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi submitted before a three-judge bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir.
“Although the court appointed a three-member committee chaired by former apex court judge, Justice R V Raveendran, to oversee the management of Bangalore’s Iskcon temple, it had come as no relief for us,” the counsel contended, adding that the Bangalore unit owns several properties at different places.
Senior advocate Krishnan Venugopal, appearing for the Bombay chapter of Iskcon, alleged that there was a divergence of funds and properties in Bangalore.
The Bombay and Bangalore chapters of Iskcon have been locked in a legal battle as the former claimed rights to control the other.
The court, after hearing the plea, asked the Bombay chapter to file a response by May 4.
A couple of applications have been filed by each chapter seeking direction to vacate the order passed on June 6 last year, whereby the status quo was maintained and the Bangalore chapter was allowed to maintain day-to-day affairs of the temple.
The court, in December last year, appointed a committee to supervise the management of the Bangalore chapter, besides advising on the matters relating to the management of the temple.
The apex court is also seized of a special leave petition, challenging the High Court of Karnataka order passed on May 23 last year, that granted decree in favour of Bombay chapter.
The trial court, on April 17, had passed a decree suit in favour of the Bangalore chapter.
The HC, however, had set aside the judgment, which has been challenged by the Bangalore chapter before the apex court.