The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal identity under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act and owns the iconic Hare Krishna Temple in Bengaluru.

The Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed a plea moved by ISKCON Bangalore against a judgment passed by the Karnataka High Court in 2011. The High Court had ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai.

Today's judgment puts a quietus to a long pending dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai, which had argued that ISKCON Bangalore is merely its branch and thus an owner of the religious property.

However, the top court has now ruled that ISKCON Bangalore cannot be called as a branch of ISKCON Mumbai.

The trial court also had earlier ruled in favour of ISKCON Bangalore, recognising its legal title and granting a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. However, the High Court had overturned the ruling.

Story to be updated.

Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi with advocates Kartik Seth, Vikas Singh Jangra and Raghav Sharma of Chambers of Kartik Seth represented ISKCON Bangalore.