New Delhi:
The Directorate of Education, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, has lodged a formal complaint with the Delhi Police against the circulation of false, misleading and malicious information on social and digital media platforms alleging that teachers in Delhi government schools were directed to count stray dogs. The department has initiated legal action, stating that the claims are entirely fabricated and aimed at misleading the public.
Addressing the media, the Director of Education categorically denied the allegations and clarified that no such order, instruction, circular or policy decision has ever been issued by the Directorate of Education. He stated that the narrative being circulated on social media has no factual basis and bears no connection whatsoever with any official directive or decision of the Education Department.
The Directorate clarified that a circular dated November 20, 2025, is being deliberately misrepresented. The circular was issued strictly in compliance with the 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 sole purpose of the circular was to ensure the safety of students by preventing the entry of stray dogs into school premises. It focused on measures such as deployment of security staff and the implementation of appropriate access control systems at school gates.
The Director of Education emphasized that there is no mention anywhere in the circular of teachers being asked to count stray dogs. He stated that the academic role, professional dignity and respect of teachers are paramount and inviolable, and the Directorate would never issue directions that undermine their responsibilities or status.
The department further informed that after noticing the spread of the fake narrative, it had issued an official clarification through a press note dated December 30, 2025, clearly stating that no such directions had been issued. Despite this clarification, the false and misleading content continued to be circulated and amplified across social media platforms. According to the Directorate, this persistence indicates malafide intent and a coordinated attempt to mislead the public and create distrust against the education system.
The Directorate has also observed instances of impersonation on social media, where individuals have falsely portrayed themselves as teachers counting stray dogs through videos and reels. The department stated that such acts amount to serious offences, as they involve impersonation and deliberate dissemination of misinformation to provoke public outrage.
In view of these developments, the Directorate of Education has lodged a complaint at Civil Lines Police Station in North District, New Delhi, seeking a detailed investigation into the origin, creation and amplification of the false narrative. A list of social media handles allegedly involved in spreading the misinformation has been shared with the police to aid the investigation.
The complaint highlights that the acts in question attract provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. These include offences related to criminal defamation, public mischief, forgery, impersonation, and the publication or transmission of misleading electronic content.
The Directorate has formally requested the police to register an appropriate FIR against those responsible, conduct a thorough investigation to identify the originators and those who forwarded the false content, and take strict legal action in accordance with the law to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
Appealing to media organisations and citizens, the Directorate of Education urged them to verify information from official sources before publishing or sharing content, particularly on sensitive matters related to education and student safety. The department cautioned that unverified and misleading information not only harms institutions but also undermines public trust.
Reiterating its position, the Directorate affirmed its commitment to transparent governance, safeguarding students, upholding the dignity of teachers, and taking firm action against deliberate misinformation that damages institutional credibility and public confidence.
