Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock could be taken to court over issues linked to the test and trace scheme.
The PM faces questions over appointing Tory peer Dido Harding – in charge of the programme – as head of the new National Institute of Health Protection.
And Health Secretary Mr Hancock is facing action after scammers accessed details of pub and restaurant customers using test and trace.
The actions have been taken by campaign groups the Runnymede Trust and the Good Law Project.
They claim breach of equality laws because the NIHP post and another key role were not advertised.
Barrister Jolyon Maugham, director of Good Law, said: “Appointments seem to be about who you know rather than what you know.”
And Dr Halima Begum, of Runnymede Trust, said: “They were unfair to those born without a silver spoon in their mouth.”
Legal papers claim the PM is responsible for two breaches of the Equality Act 2010. He has until November 11 to respond or face action in the courts.
A spokesman for No10 said they would not comment on any “pending or ongoing litigation”.
It comes as Mr Johnson announced new lockdown measures for the nation tonight.
People will be ordered to stay at home while pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms and non-essential shops must shut from Thursday.
The Prime Minister made the statement to the nation more than a month after his scientific experts called for a time-limited shutdown.
SAGE called for a two- or three-week circuit breaker on September 21 to reverse spiralling virus rates.
But Mr Johnson repeatedly refused the plea - instead going for a three-tier local restrictions system.
And now the government’s advisors now believe it is too late for a two-week shutdown to make enough difference.
