Select Page

GBC Panel to Examine Lokanath Swami Case

“GBC Announces Panel to Examine Lokanath Swami Issue and its Own Past Decision Making”

By: ISKCON Governing Body Commission on July 21, 2021

Today, the GBC Executive Committee released a statement regarding a recent GBC decision on how to proceed with the controversy regarding Lokanath Swami.

From the GBC Executive Committee

July 21, 2021

Dear ISKCON Devotees and Friends,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We write to inform the global ISKCON society regarding a recent decision of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC).

The GBC has been discussing the history and status of the Lokanath Swami issue for many weeks, both in our plenary sessions and among a smaller group of devotees assisting the GBC Executive Committee. As many of you know, this issue has drawn global attention within our society and evoked strong—and often contradictory—feelings among devotees around the world.

Among many issues, the GBC is also weighing whether our own past investigations, actions, and decisions regarding this problem were sufficient, appropriate, and what should be improved in the future.

Therefore, on July 14th, the GBC voted to establish a special Panel of senior devotees with expertise in both child protection and legal principles, to review the matter in its entirety and return a report with recommendations to the GBC. Two of these three Panel members are attorneys, and two of the three are former Directors of the ISKCON Child Protection Office. All three are respected individuals of the highest integrity.

The resolution reads:

A Panel composed of Tamohara Das, Navin Shyama Das, and Champakalata Devi Dasi, shall assess and evaluate the matter regarding Lokanath Swami based on a mandate drawn up by General Counsel and present its Report within 60 days of the Resolution. When the panel concludes its deliberations it will present its recommendations/report to the GBC Body, who will decide the way forward from there.”

The ISKCON India leadership has also been invited to nominate two devotees for inclusion in the panel.

We are aware that within the ISKCON society, there is heated debate whether or not the Lokanath Swami’s case should go to the Child Protection Office. Our current CPO Director agrees with the need for the above-described Panel, and he advocates that afterward the case should be sent to the CPO. Other respected voices argue that this case was reviewed by a special investigative process in the past, prior to the existence of the CPO, and sufficient remedial steps and restrictions were put in place, and thus no further review is required.

The GBC decided that a skilled and experienced Panel must first clarify the broader issues involved, including the facts and history of the case, and then recommend what the next step will be.

We recognize that this is a very contentious issue, with strong convictions on all sides of the matter. The GBC is dedicated to moving forward in a sober, just, and thorough manner. We ask for all parties’ patience while the Panel completes its task.

Thank you,

GBC Executive Committee

Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Chair

Banu Swami

Revati Ramana das

The following are the Scope and Terms of Reference for the abovementioned special Panel

SCOPE AND TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PANEL

IN RESPECT OF REVIEW INTO LOKANATH SWAMI’S (‘LNS’) MATTER:

1. Reports to: The GBC

2. Purpose: The Review Panel shall inquire into, make findings, report and make recommendations concerning the following:

  • To establish a shared baseline of facts and evidence regarding this case.
  • After establishing the shared baseline, then assess and review the facts and evaluate the evidence of the case.
  • Assess and review the manner in which the previous investigation and adjudication of this case were handled by the GBC, including but not limited, to whether the GBC erred, or otherwise, in such handling and, accordingly, make recommendations on the appropriate action that could be taken.
  • Assess and review the sanctions on LNS, including, but not limited, to the extent these sanctions were complied with by LNS, and the basis of sanctions, taking into consideration expert legal opinions and principled decision making. This will include, but not be limited, to examining the issue of double jeopardy.
  • Present its findings and make recommendations on the above to the GBC.

3. Conclusion:

To submit a report to the GBC within sixty (60) days from the convening of the Panel.

https://iskconnews.org/gbc-announces-panel-to-examine-lokanath-swami-issue-and-its-own-past-decision-making,7917/

Loading

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

May 19, 2023Euro RGB Statement Regarding Lokanath Swami Status in EuropeHaving received feedback and requests from some members of our European devotee community, the Euro RGB body set forth to review and discuss the previous resolution made regarding Lokanath Swami...

Lokanath’s Lawsuit Against Child Protection Advocates

Lokanath’s Lawsuit Against Child Protection Advocates

Since April 2021, Damodara dasa (Australia) and Saraswati dasi (North America) have asked the ISKCON GBC to follow their child protection laws and remove confessed child molester Lokanath "Swami" from leadership within ISKCON.   On November 24, 2022, Lokanath's lawyer...

Lokanath Loophole

Lokanath Loophole

 The ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPO) offers a service that when a devotee comes to a temple, that temple can contact the CPO and say “Hey, x is planning to come to our temple. Do they have any CPO restrictions?” And the CPO can respond “X is clear” or “X has a...

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

North American Council NA GBC and Regional LeadersInternational Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada24 October 2022Statement:As per the recent GBC resolution stating "Lokanath Swami shall not initiate...

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

ISKCON Europe Bans Lokanath

Dear European Leaders,Please accept our humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada!With this message, we like to inform you about the decision on H.H. Lokanatha Swami that was taken by the Euro RGB during the recent meeting in Radhadesha.Resolution...

Lokanath Loophole

Lokanath’s Admissions of Molesting a Child

These are a dozen confirmed instances between 1993 and 2017 when Lokanath admitted to his sexual abuse of a child.  This is a partial list as there have been other in-person conversations, phone calls, and correspondence where Lokanath talked about his sexual abuse of...

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

2022 GBC Resolution: Refraining from Interfering in Investigations

REFRAINING THE GBC FROM INTERVENING IN THE WORK OF VARIOUS ISKCON AGENCIES, OFFICES AND COMMITTEES Approved 20th JULY 2022WHEREAS the GBC Body (“GBC”) has created various ISKCON agencies, offices and committees to which it has delegated authority to deal with abuse of...

We ask the leadership of the Hare Krishna movement to set a clear and strong precedent for, and priority of, zero tolerance for child abuse – by handing Lokanath Swami’s child molestation case over to the ISKCON Child Protection Office.