Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 12: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked 19 States and Union Territories (UTs) to notify cancer as a notifiable disease. This comes amid calls for a uniform system in order to ensure mandatory reporting of cancer cases across India.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohara, heard a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) seeking directions to declare cancer a notifiable disease nationwide.
During this hearing, the Court questioned the Centre on why uniform mandatory guidelines could not be issued for all States and UTs. However, the Centre’s Additional Solicitor General submitted that health is a State subject.
The Court was informed that 17 States and UTs have already notified cancer as a notifiable disease. Taking a note of this, the Bench directed the remaining States and UTs to consider the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee and take an appropriate decision. They have also been asked to file compliance affidavits.
What does the PIL seek?
Filed in November 2025, the PIL highlights gaps in India’s cancer surveillance system. It argues that different reporting practices across States have resulted in fragmented data and disparities in monitoring and early intervention.
The petition also points out that the ICMR’s National Cancer Registry Programme covers only around 10 percent of India’s population. Of which, with rural coverage estimated at just 1 percent.
Among its key demands are a centralised real-time digital cancer registry, stronger cancer screening at primary and community health centres, expanded population based cancer registries and better access to affordable treatment.
