ACHARYA JAGDISHWARANAND AVADHUTA, ETC. vs COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CALCUTTA & ANR.

The Supreme Court held that Ananda Marga is not a separate religion but a religious denomination, thus Article 25 of the Constitution does not apply. The Court ruled that the performance of the Tandava dance in public streets is not an essential religious rite of Ananda Marga. Additionally, the Court found that repetitive orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, constitute an abuse of power and are not permissible as they are meant to address emergent situations only.