THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE vs ACHARYA JAGADISHWARANANDA AVADHUTA

The Supreme Court reaffirmed its earlier ruling in Acharya Jagdishwaranda Avadhuta & Others v. The Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, (1984) 1 SCR 447, that Tandava dance is not an essential practice of the Ananda Margi faith. The Court held that the High Court's conclusion that the dance, particularly with the use of skulls and tridents, is integral to the faith was incorrect. Consequently, the Court upheld the restrictions imposed by the Commissioner of Police regarding the performance of the Tandava dance in public.