Only when ordinary law enforcement machinery fails

Only When Ordinary Law Enforcement Machinery Fails is a scholarly and thought-provoking legal work that examines one of the most frequently cited principles in Indian constitutional and criminal jurisprudence. The book analyzes the legal, constitutional, and administrative foundations governing the State’s power to invoke extraordinary measures when routine policing proves inadequate.

Drawing from landmark judicial pronouncements, constitutional provisions, and statutory frameworks, the book explores how courts balance public order, national security, and civil liberties. It evaluates the conditions under which special laws, preventive detention, or deployment of armed forces may be justified, while emphasizing the doctrine of necessity, proportionality, and minimal intrusion.

The work serves as a critical guide for understanding executive discretion, limits on coercive power, and the role of judicial oversight in safeguarding democratic values. By addressing both theoretical and practical dimensions, the book provides clarity on a subject central to governance, security, and constitutional accountability.

This book is indispensable for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how the rule of law operates in exceptional situations without undermining fundamental rights.