Petition alleges Sexual Abuse in ISKCON schools: Supreme Court directs to approach NCPCR
"This case has something to do with children...that's why we have asked you to go to the neutral body," court said.
The complaints outlined instances of alleged sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.
The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition seeking probe into alleged instances of sexual abuse in schools run by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan instead asked the petitioner before it to approach the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights with their grievances. Court directed that if such representations are made to the state child rights commissions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, the same shall be considered in a reasonable time.
"We dispose of this petition by reserving liberty to the petitioners herein to make a fresh representation/reminder to NCPCR, UP SCPCR and West Bengal SCPCR to bring to the notice of these respondents the allegations that are ventilated in this petition," the bench recorded in its order.
A petition was filed by Rajneesh Kapur and others seeking an investigation into alleged instances of sexual abuse in schools run by ISKCON.
Court was told that the case involved a failure by authorities to discharge their constitutional and statutory duties to protect the fundamental rights of children under Article 21, including safeguarding them from sexual and physical abuse.
Allegedly, the petition stated instances of alleged sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, pointing to more than 200 children who allegedly suffered systematic abuse at the hands of senior ISKCON leaders.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for ISKCON, told the Court that the petition stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the Bangalore faction of ISKCON and the organization's other units. "This case has something to do with children...that's why we have asked you to go to the neutral body," Justice Nagarathna went on to add.
In May this year, the Supreme Court had held that the iconic Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in Bengaluru belongs to ISKCON Bangalore, a society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act. The Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih had allowed the plea filed by ISKCON Bangalore, overturning a 2011 Karnataka High Court judgment that had favoured ISKCON Mumbai’s claim over the temple’s control.
The dispute, spanning over more than a decade, involved two entities with similar names and spiritual missions, ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai. ISKCON Bangalore, represented by its office-bearer Kodandarama Dasa, moved the Supreme Court on June 2, 2011, challenging the High Court's May 23, 2011 ruling.
Case Title: RAJNEESH KAPUR vs. UNION OF INDIA
Bench: Justices Nagarathna and Mahadevan
Hearing Date: November 25, 2025