HPI
FLUSHING, NEW YORK, November 9, 2004: The court-ordered elections for the Hindu Temple Society of North America are in process, with the last date for submission of membership applications set for November 15. Once complete, a new board of trustees will be elected by this membership. Presently the board has been self-appointed. According to a letter of November 3 circulated by the existing board, they will participate in the elections. The elections are the result of years of litigation in which an original set of by-laws providing for an elected board was judged in state court to be legitimate, and a latter set providing for a self-appointed board never properly adopted. The election has attracted controversy for several reasons, including the fact that it is being conducted by a non-Hindu court-appointed referee, and because the original by-laws allow for both Hindus and non-Hindus to be members, as long as they pledge to abide by the purposes and objectives of the society. There is a resident membership for those within 50 miles of New York City, and a non-resident membership for everyone else. Both appear to have voting rights in the election of the trustees. Applications were supposed to have been sent to everyone on the temple’s mailing list.