The Commissioner Of Police & Ors vs Acharya Jagdishwarananda Avadhuta & ...

The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court's ruling that the Tandava dance is an essential part of the Ananda Marga religion, protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India. The Court found that the police had no jurisdiction to impose a ban on the performance of the Tandava dance during public processions, provided the participants maintain peace and discipline. The judgment affirmed the right of the Ananda Margis to perform their religious rites in public, thus dismissing the appeal by the Commissioner of Police.