Archive · 11 Aug 2026
SC asks 19 states, UTs to declare cancer notifiable disease
Cancer is a very serious illness that many people get.
In India, a big court called the Supreme Court helps make important rules.
The court wants every state and territory to keep track of people who have cancer by making it a 'notifiable disease.'
That means doctors must tell the government about every cancer patient.
This helps find cancer early, so patients can get care sooner.
Right now, only 17 of India's 36 states and territories are doing this.
So the court asked the other 19 states to start too.
A famous doctor named Anurag Srivastava asked the court to make this happen.
The government says health rules are decided by each state, not the whole country.
The judges think the whole country should follow one clear rule instead.
The Supreme Court asked the 19 remaining states and Union territories to declare cancer a 'notifiable disease' to ensure early detection and proper care of patients.
Only 17 of the 36 states and UTs have so far notified cancer, following recommendations in a parliamentary standing committee report.
The court acted on a public interest litigation filed by renowned doctor Anurag Srivastava; notices were issued to the Centre and all states and UTs on December 12 last year.
A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre why it was not issuing mandatory uniform guidelines for all states and UTs.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik said health is a state subject and noted that 17 states have already notified the disease.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India (bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana), the Union government represented by Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, PIL petitioner Dr. Anurag Srivastava, and the 19 states and UTs yet to notify cancer.
- What
- The Supreme Court asked the 19 remaining states and UTs to declare cancer a 'notifiable disease' and questioned the Centre on why it was not issuing mandatory uniform guidelines.
- When
- On a recent Tuesday (exact date not specified in the article), following notices issued on December 12 of the previous year.
- Where
- India, in the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- To ensure early detection and proper care of cancer patients across India.
Uniform National Policy
State Autonomy in Health
Mandatory guidelines for all states and UTs
Uniform National Policy
The bench asked the Centre why it was not issuing 'some mandatory guidelines for all states/UTs', saying there should be a uniform policy.
State Autonomy in Health
The Centre, through ASG Anil Kaushik, said health is a state subject and noted that 17 states have already notified the disease.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Action
- Asked 19 remaining states/UTs to declare cancer a notifiable disease
- States/UTs that have notified
- 17 of 36
- States/UTs yet to notify
- 19
- Petitioner
- Dr. Anurag Srivastava (public interest litigation)
- Earlier notices issued
- December 12 of the previous year
- Centre's position
- Health is a state subject; 17 states have already notified the disease