The Supreme Court on Monday, August 17, 2026, agreed to consider setting up a fresh Bench to hear a review petition challenging its earlier verdict concerning the Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in Bengaluru.
The dispute involves two organisations associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), with the legal battle focusing on control and ownership of the prominent Bengaluru complex.
Review of 2025 Supreme Court Verdict
The latest development relates to the Supreme Court May 16, 2025 judgment, in which the Court held that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belonged to ISKCON Bangalore.
The verdict had come after ISKCON Bangalore challenged a Karnataka High Court order that had ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai in the dispute over control of the temple and educational complex.
The Supreme Court earlier ruling therefore represented an important legal development in the long-running dispute between the two sides.
Fresh Bench Under Consideration
On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the possibility of constituting a fresh Bench to hear the review plea against the May 2025 judgment.
A review petition seeks reconsideration of an earlier judicial decision, but the latest development does not mean that the original verdict has been overturned. The matter remains under consideration, and the Court is yet to decide the review petition on its merits.
The question of constituting a fresh Bench is therefore a procedural step in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Dispute Over Bengaluru Temple Complex
The Bengaluru Hare Krishna temple and its associated educational facilities are at the centre of the dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai.
The disagreement has involved questions concerning the control and management of the iconic religious and educational complex. The litigation has moved through different levels of the judiciary, eventually reaching the Supreme Court.
The May 2025 judgment favoured ISKCON Bangalore after the organisation challenged the Karnataka High Court decision.
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Court latest move keeps the legal dispute open for further consideration. The Court will determine whether a fresh Bench should be constituted to hear the review plea.
Until the review proceedings are decided, the May 16, 2025 judgment remains the relevant Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
The case highlights the complex legal and organisational issues that can arise when disputes involving religious institutions reach the courts. For now, the focus remains on the review petition and the Supreme Court's decision on how it should be heard.