Writ Filed in High Court Seeking School Closures Amid Deadly Measles Outbreak

Advocate Latif Jahan Purnima submitted the petition in the public interest on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The legal move follows reports of a sharp spike in cases across the country, with the petitioner expressing grave concern over the recent deaths of 47 children linked to the viral outbreak. The writ also demands the formation of a high-level investigation committee to assess the severity of the health crisis and identify lapses in containment efforts.

The petition names the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with other relevant health authorities, as respondents. It specifically requests the court to direct the government to submit a comprehensive report detailing the actual number of measles-related fatalities, current infection rates, and the status of the national vaccination program. Furthermore, the petitioner has asked for a detailed account of the emergency measures taken by the administration so far to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease among school-aged children.

Health experts have noted that the surge in cases is particularly threatening to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. The writ argues that keeping schools open during such a widespread outbreak poses a significant risk to public health and could lead to an uncontrollable epidemic. If the High Court grants the requested directives, it could lead to a nationwide shutdown of classrooms until the Ministry of Health provides a verified plan to stabilize the situation and ensure the safety of students through intensified immunization drives.