Delhi DoE rejects social media claims of teachers counting stray dogs in schools

The Delhi Directorate of Education has rejected claims circulating on social and digital media that government school teachers were instructed to count stray dogs, calling the allegations false and malicious.

Addressing the media, the Director of Education said no order, instruction, circular, or policy decision of any kind had been issued directing teachers to carry out such an exercise.

“The claims being circulated are entirely fabricated, baseless, and false and have no connection whatsoever with any official decision or directive of the Education Department,” the director said, according to an official release.

The Directorate clarified that a circular issued on Nov 20, 2025, was released only to comply with directions of the Supreme Court of India in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025, titled “City hounded by strays, kids pay price.”

The circular was intended solely to ensure student safety by preventing the entry of stray dogs into school premises through security deployment and access control measures.

Officials stressed that the circular contains no reference to teachers counting stray dogs. The Directorate said the academic role, professional dignity, and respect of teachers remain central and protected.

The Education Department said it had already issued a clarification through a press note on Dec 30, 2025, after noticing the spread of what it described as a fake narrative.

“Despite this official clarification, the false and misleading content continued to be deliberately circulated and amplified, indicating malicious intent and a coordinated attempt to mislead the public,” the release said.

The Directorate also flagged instances of impersonation on social media, where individuals allegedly posed as teachers and shared videos and reels claiming to count stray dogs. Officials said such actions amount to serious offenses.

In response, the Directorate has filed a formal complaint at the Civil Lines Police Station in North Delhi, seeking an investigation into the origin and spread of the misinformation.

“A formal complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police. The department is fully cooperating with the investigation. The Education Department will not remain silent against any deliberate misinformation. Teachers’ dignity and students’ safety are non-negotiable,” said Sushil Singh, Director of Information and Publicity.

The department said it has shared details of social media accounts involved in circulating the false claims with the police.

The complaint cites provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, including sections related to criminal defamation, public mischief, forgery, impersonation, and the transmission of misleading electronic content.

The Directorate has sought registration of an FIR, a detailed probe to identify those responsible for creating and spreading the content, and strict legal action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The DoE appeals to media organizations and citizens to verify information from official sources before publishing or sharing any content, particularly on sensitive issues related to education and student safety,” the release said.

“The Directorate reaffirms its unwavering commitment to transparent governance, safeguarding students, upholding the dignity of teachers, and taking firm action against deliberate misinformation that undermines public trust and institutional credibility,” the release added.