No Stay on ISKCON Verdict; Some Relief for Madhu Pandit dasa

BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT

May 24, 2011 — BANGALORE, INDIA (TIMES OF INDIA) — The high court has refused to stay its Monday's verdict in which it had said that Iskcon, Bangalore, had no legal existence of its own. The division bench comprising Justices H N Nagamohan Das and Arali Nagaraj, however, asked Iskcon, Mumbai, not to remove president (Madhu Pandit Dasa) and other functionaries by invoking the bylaws and regulations for six weeks.

The bench had already specified that Madhu Pandit Dasa and others can continue in their posts with a requirement that that they should act as per bylaws and regulations of Iskcon, Mumbai.

Earlier, the counsel representing Iskcon, Bangalore, moved an application seeking for 90-day stay on the verdict to enable them to approach the Supreme Court. He said there were other problems like the future of 375 employees and some financial commitments.

However, former advocate general Udaya Holla who appeared for Iskcon, Mumbai, assured the court that no employee would be retrenched. He opposed the stay saying that in the light of finding of colossal fraud and usurping of power, no relief should be granted.

At this juncture, the bench observed that it was not a private litigation and reminded them that the property in question belonged to the devotees, a fact observed in the 81-page judgment.

ISKCON BANGALORE'S ARGUMENT

* We have been in de-facto possession of the Hare Krishna Hill premises for the last several decades and various court orders are in our support

* The practicality of any transfer of management will not be possible on an immediate basis

* We have already given an undertaking in the Supreme Court that we will not alienate or part with the assets and are willing to submit to any process of reporting to the court

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