STRENGTHENING MARITIME SECURITY IN INDIA: LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AT SEA

Anil Kumar Harbola*

Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) is a critical aspect of safeguarding national interests. It encompasses enforcing the ‘rule of law’ in accordance with Indian and international law within India’s maritime zones and beyond. India’s vast ‘maritime area of interest’ presents a variety of complex challenges for Maritime Law Enforcement, including the involvement of multiple agencies like the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, Customs, and Marine Police, jurisdictional complexities, inter-agency coordination, resource constraints, legal gaps, and emerging non-traditional threats. This paper examines the challenges of maritime law enforcement in India, considering institutional, operational, and legal dimensions.

Keywords: Maritime law enforcement, International law, Coast guard, Navy, and Maritime challenges.

*PhD Scholars of SICMSS (School of Integrated Coastal and Maritime Security Studies); anilkumar.harbola_phd@rru.ac.in
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