Supreme Court asks 19 States, UTs to declare cancer 'notifiable disease' for early detection
The Supreme Court's direction came after it was informed that 17 of the 36 States and UTs have so far notified cancer as a "notified disease"
On August 11, 2026, the Supreme Court instructed 19 states and union territories to classify cancer as a "notifiable disease" in order to facilitate early detection and appropriate care for patients. Chief Justice Surya Kant's bench delivered the ruling after being informed that 17 out of the 36 states and union territories had already designated cancer as a notifiable disease, following the recommendations of a parliamentary standing committee report.
The court was addressing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr. Anurag Srivastava, represented by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, requesting a nationwide declaration of cancer as a notifiable disease to ensure early detection and proper care for patients. The bench also questioned the central government for not issuing "some mandatory guidelines for all States/UTs," arguing that a uniform policy was necessary.
The petition pointed out that the continued failure to notify cancer, despite its growing burden in India, amounted to a significant failure to fulfill the state's constitutional duty under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. This neglect denied uniform treatment to similarly-situated citizens and undermined their fundamental right to health and a dignified life.
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