Four Chancellor College (Chanco) students have filed for an injunction at the High Court in Zomba against the closure of the school in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Steven Mponda, Young Soko, Lonjezo Noel Banda and Precious Kalulu on Monday applied for an injunction against President Peter Mutharika as first respondent and Council of the University of Malawi (Unima) as second respondent.

The four have asked the court to stop Unima council from enforcing the order by Mutharika on March 20, 2020 as part of a declaration of state of disaster.

Judge Zione Ntaba said before making its determination, the court needs to first look into issues pertaining to the Public Health Act and rights of persons living with conditions that make them vulnerable if they contract the COVID-19.

She therefore referred the matter to an inter-parties hearing scheduled for March 27, 2020.

On Friday last week President Mutharika declared a state of disaster over the coronavirus pandemic.

He also ordered the closure of both public and private schools and a suspension of public gatherings of more than 100 people.