"Laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) are enacted to address what the state describes as extraordinary situations and put in place exceptions to the ordinary legal and judicial procedures. By examining public debates surrounding laws like POTA and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and also specific cases, trials and judgements under the Acts, the author argues that extraordinary laws have ramifications for people's lives, political institutions, the rule of law and democratic functioning. He also shows how such laws assume 'normalcy' and acquire a place of permanence in state practices, and examines the ways in which such extraordinary laws manifest dominant configurations of political power and ideology."--BOOK JACKET.