Supreme Court Asks Petitioners Alleging Sexual Abuse In ISKCON-run Schools To Approach Child Rights Commissions

The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition seeking an investigation into alleged instances of sexual abuse in schools run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness(ISKCON), allowing the petitioners to approach the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commissions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal with a fresh representation.

A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan heard the plea, in which the petitioners alleged that internal records indicated serious cases of sexual abuse and that complaints made to authorities had not elicited any action. Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the material placed before the Court was only a small part of what they believed to be a larger pattern of abuse, and that earlier representations to child rights bodies had gone unanswered.

Justice Nagarathna asked the petitioners to send another reminder to NCPCR and the State Commissions, and sought clarity on whether any FIRs or investigations had been initiated. The counsel responded that their knowledge was limited but that complaints had been lodged with the police.

The petition was filed by Rajneesh Kapur, Justice for Srila Prabhuda Foundation and Radhey Krishna Legal Aid Foundation.

Passing its order, the bench granted liberty to the petitioners to make a fresh representation or reminder to the concerned commissions, and directed that such representations must be considered in light of the grievances raised.

"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. It is needless to observe that if such representations are made to the aforesaid respondents, the same shall be considered having regard to the grievances and allegations which are stated in the representation/in the writ petition," the bench observed in the order.

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 organisation's other units. He submitted that the dispute is pending consideration before a three-judge bench after a split in the review bench. The petitioners denied that the case was linked to the factional conflict.

"This case has something to do with children...that's why we have asked you to go to the neutral body," Justice Nagarathna said.

Case : RAJNEESH KAPUR Vs UNION OF INDIA | W.P.(Crl.) No. 398/2025 Diary No. 51457 / 2025