Nagpur: Dog bite cases in Nagpur during the first four months of 2026 have reached their highest level since records began in 2022, underscoring growing concerns over stray dog management even as the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay its directions on removing stray dogs from public institutions such as hospitals, schools, and colleges.
Data compiled for the January-April period over the past five years shows that 2026 recorded an unprecedented 4,226 dog bite cases, significantly higher than the 3,444 cases reported during the same period in 2025, marking a sharp 22.7% increase. The January–April numbers stood at 3,108 in 2022, 3,372 in 2023, 3,465 in 2024, and 3,444 in 2025 before surging sharply this year.
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For the first time, each month in the opening four months of the calendar year crossed the 1,000-case mark, with January itself recording 1,060 cases, February 1,041, March 1,023, and April 1,102, the highest figures for the respective months since 2022.April 2026 also saw the highest April tally on record, surpassing the previous high of 887 cases reported in April 2022.
Hearing pleas filed by animal welfare groups, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria observed that authorities could not remain “mute spectators” when citizens, particularly children and the elderly, were increasingly becoming victims of dog attacks. The apex court expressed concern over the poor implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and warned municipal and state officials of contempt proceedings for non-compliance.
The court also directed states to establish at least one Animal Birth Control centre in every district and asked high courts to monitor implementation. However, animal activists raised concerns over the observations. Nagpur-based activist Smita Mire said that while public safety was important, the issue reflected administrative failure rather than the mere presence of stray animals. She argued that authorities had failed for years to implement sterilisation, vaccination, and shelter mechanisms.
Mire questioned whether the arbitrary identification of “aggressive” dogs could lead to misuse and unscientific euthanasia. She said that accountability should rest with civic authorities for the poor implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes instead of shifting the burden onto “speechless animals.
