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"
The Supreme Court ordered 19 states and union territories on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) to classify cancer as a "notifiable disease" to promote early detection and adequate patient care. Chief Justice Surya Kant presided over the bench that issued the directive, following reports that 17 of the 36 states and union territories had already designated cancer as a notifiable disease, based on recommendations from a parliamentary standing committee.
The court was considering a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr. Anurag Srivastava, represented by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, which sought a nationwide declaration of cancer as a notifiable disease to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate care for patients. The bench also criticized the central government for not providing "mandatory guidelines" for all states and union territories, emphasizing the need for a standardized approach.
The petition argued that the ongoing failure to notify cancer, given its significant and growing burden in India, constituted a serious breach of the state's constitutional obligations under Articles 14 and 21, which guarantee equal treatment under the law and the right to a dignified life, respectively.
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