An
Oversight Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has urged
ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai to find a peaceful settlement.
Responding to this, ISKCON-Bangalore has given a Peace Proposal.
Following are the related document copies
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NINTH MEETING OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (APPOINTED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN REGARD TO THE ISKCON TEMPLE AND ITS PROPERTIES AT BANGALORE) HELD ON 29-02-2012
PRESENT:
1.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.V. Raveendran (retd.),
Chairman
2.
Sri Ananda Tirtha Dasa, Member
3.
Sri Stoka Krishna Dasa, Member
It was noted that the proceedings of the eighth
meeting wrongly recorded the date of the next meeting as 28th
February, 2012 though it had been agreed that the meeting would be on 29th
February, 2012. Accordingly the meeting is being held today, 29th
February,2012 and not on 28th
February, 2012.
In response to the directions (for production
of documents and furnishing of particulars) contained in the proceedings of the
meeting dated 21-02-2012, ISKCON-Bangalore has submitted two letters dated 29-02-2012
with certain enclosures. We find therefrom that ISKCON-Bangalore has given
replies to the several queries raised.
The Committee discussed various issues
relating to the discharge of its functions in overseeing and supervising the management
of the temple and its properties by ISKCON-Bangalore. The Committee also took
note of the directions and observation of the Honourable Supreme Court made on 06-06-2011
to the following effect:
“However,
we express a pious hope that the learned counsel appearing for the respective
parties shall find some time and examine the possibility of amicably resolving
the issues involved in the present matter. We would also expect that the
different sections of this august institution would avoid unnecessary
litigation and the office bearers of both the societies shall fully cooperate
in this behalf. “
The Chairman enquired whether any steps have
been taken in that behalf. It was mentioned by Sri Stoka Krishna Dasa that ISKCON-Bangalore
has made two proposals for settlement and there is no response from
ISKCON-Mumbai. Sri Ananda Tirtha Dasa stated that ISKCON-Mumbai felt that the
proposal was not practical and appeared to be an attempt to merely make a
nominal offer without any real intention to settle the matter.
The Chairman felt that ISKCON-Bangalore may
give its proposal by breaking it into clear and distinct negotiable issues or
points, which could be mutually discussed; and ISKCON-Mumbai may also give its
views thereon or counter proposals. It is needless to say that such proposals
and counter proposals will be without prejudice to their rights and contentions.
The Committee is willing to extend the required assistance to the parties to
arrive at an amicable mutually agreed settlement, as hoped by the Honourable
Supreme Court of India.
The next meeting is scheduled on Wednesday,
14-03-2012 at 4:00pm.
Justice
R.V. Raveendran(retd.)
Chairman
Ananda
Tirtha Dasa Stoka Krishna Dasa
Member Member
PEACE
PROPOSAL BY ISKCON-BANGALORE
PLACED BEFORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
DATED MARCH 14TH, 2012
PLACED BEFORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
DATED MARCH 14TH, 2012
(THIS PEACE PROPOSAL IS OFFERED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO THE RIGHTS AND CONTENTIONS OF ISKCON-BANGALORE SOCIETY MADE BEFORE
VARIOUS COURTS AND IN THE SLP BEFORE THE HONOURABLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA)
The dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and
ISKCON-Mumbai concerns:
I Theological issue:
Who is the Acharya of ISKCON who will give diksha
(initiation) to all the devotees of ISKCON?
ISKCON-Bangalore’s
Position: Srila Prabhupada shall remain the Acharya of
ISKCON and continue to give diksha
and guide all devotees in ISKCON to the abode of Lord Sri Krishna.
ISKCON-Mumbai’s Position: Since Srila Prabhupada is no more physically present, one should take diksha from one of the present ISKCON gurus.
II Who
owns the Sri Radha Krishna Temple property on Hare Krishna Hill in Bangalore?
Is it ISKCON-Bangalore society or ISKCON-Mumbai society?
III Who
shall manage Sri Radha Krishna Temple property on Hare Krishna Hill in Bangalore?
Is it ISKCON-Bangalore society or ISKCON-Mumbai society?
The
suit schedule property, Sri Radha Krishna Temple on Hare Krishna Hill,
Rajajinagar, Bangalore, being a public temple and a immovable property which
cannot be sold or mortgaged or encumbered in any manner in the process of
managing the same, the real issue is to determine the permanent structure of
management of this Sri Radha Krishna Temple property, on Hare Krishna Hill,
Rajajinagar, Bangalore, hereinafter referred to as the Temple.
ISKCON-Bangalore
wishes to propose the following:
1.
System of initiation (diksha): the irrevocable and only system
of initiation practiced and preached in the Temple shall be as per July 9th
1977 directive of Srila Prabhupada. According to this, Srila Prabhupada is the
Acharya and all devotees of ISKCON shall be disciples of Srila Prabhupada.
2.
There shall be a two tier system for
managing the Temple:
Governing Council:
this council will govern the Temple by defining broad policies as per the
objectives of ISKCON and directions of temple management as given by Srila
Prabhupada. A CHARTER FOR GOVERNENCE will more elaborately describe the scope
and powers of the Governing Council.
Executive Council:
this council will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the Temple. A CHARTER
FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT will more elaborately describe the scope and powers of
the Executive Council.
3.
The Governing Council will consist of
a)
three members nominated by
ISKCON-Bangalore society
b) three
members nominated by ISKCON-Mumbai society
c)
one retired High court or Supreme court
judge nominated by ISKCON-Bangalore society.
d) one
retired High court or Supreme court judge nominated by ISKCON-Mumbai society.
4.
The Executive Council will consist
entirely of missionaries who are members of and nominated by ISKCON-Bangalore
society consisting of Temple President, assisted by Senior Vice President and
several Vice Presidents, as it is now managed.
5.
There shall be a CODE OF CONDUCT which
will define how the devotees of both societies should conduct themselves at the
Temple keeping in mind the system of initiation as per point no.1 above.
6.
On the broad acceptance of this proposal,
a Joint Draft Committee will be formed and charged with the task of drafting
the following documents:
i) CHARTER
FOR GOVERNENCE
ii) CHARTER
FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
iii) CODE
OF CONDUCT
These three will constitute the TEMPLE CONSITITUTION DOCUMENTS.
7. The Joint Draft Committee will consist
of
a. three
members nominated by ISKCON-Bangalore society
b. three
members nominated by ISKCON Mumbai society
c. the
Oversight Committee
8. In
future, the TEMPLE CONSTITUTION DOCUMENTS can be amended only by ¾ majority of
the Governing Council. Such amendments are possible only in a Council with a
quorum of 6 members present and at least one retired HC or SC judge will be one
of the 6 members. More details of such special meetings will be part of the
charter.
9. After the TEMPLE CONSTITUTION
DOCUMENTS are drafted, the PEACE PROPOSAL will be finalized and put in place
under the supervision of the Oversight Committee.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TENTH MEETING OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (APPOINTED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN REGARD TO THE ISKCON TEMPLE AND ITS PROPERTIES AT BANGALORE) HELD ON 14-03-2012
PRESENT:
1.
Hon'ble Justice Sri R.V.
Raveendran (retd.), Chairman
2.
Sri Ananda Tirtha Dasa,
Member
3.
Sri Stoka Krishna Dasa,
Member
ISKCON-Bangalore
submitted a letter dated 10-03-2012 enclosing a corrected list of trustees in
regard to Sankirtan Seva Trust. It is taken on record. The said list gives the
names of the Trustees year-wise. The dates on which the changes in Trustees took
place is not disclosed.
Instead of year-wise Trustees,
the actual date of changes of trustees in regard to Trustees of all the
associated trusts should be furnished.
In response to the
suggestion by the Committee that the parties should start exploring the possibility
of an amicable settlement as hoped by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, ISKCON-Bangalore
has placed a Peace Proposal before the Committee under cover of letter dated 14-03-2012.
The said proposal has been made without prejudice to its rights and
contentions. The Committee has decided to forward the said peace proposal made
by ISKCON-Bangalore to ISKCON-Mumbai with the hope that ISKCON-Mumbai will
consider the same appropriately.
The next meeting is scheduled
on Wednesday, 28-03-2012 at 4:00pm. ISKCON-Mumbai should give their view by
then.
Justice R.V. Raveendran(retd.)
Chairman
Ananda Tirtha Dasa Stoka Krishna Dasa
Member Member
