The Delhi Directorate of Education has officially rejected a viral claim that government school teachers were instructed to count and monitor stray dogs on city streets. Senior officials said the allegation is a fabricated story that has been circulated widely on social media and is damaging to the reputation of teachers and school staff.
Delhi dog counting hoax and the official response
At a press conference, Director of Education Veditha Reddy described the posts as malicious and baseless. She said the directorate has not issued any circular, order or policy directing teachers to undertake any such non‑teaching tasks. ‘‘Teachers are employed for instructional duties and the false narrative is intended to undermine their dignity and create confusion among parents and the public,’’ she said.
The episode gained political attention after a December 30, 2025 social media post by former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether teachers would teach children or count dogs, which contributed to the viral spread. The directorate moved quickly to clarify the facts and to begin an inquiry into how the misinformation originated and proliferated.
Officials said digital evidence — including screenshots, timestamps and post timelines — has been documented and preserved. A formal complaint has been lodged with the Delhi Police alleging deliberate dissemination of false information, criminal defamation and misuse of social media. Directorate representatives said legal action will follow as the investigation establishes responsibility.
The directorate reiterated that a circular issued on November 20, 2025 was released only to comply with a Supreme Court suomoto petition (Civil Petition No. 5 of 2025) titled ‘City troubled by stray dogs, children paying the price’. That circular instructed schools to strengthen perimeter security, deploy security personnel where required and implement effective access control so stray animals do not enter school premises. It did not, the directorate emphasised, ask teachers to conduct counts or surveillance of animals.
School administrators told reporters that the false posts also featured videos and images edited to suggest teachers were involved in dog‑counting activities. ‘‘We have seen people impersonate teachers in clips and fabricated scenarios that never took place in our schools,’’ a senior official said. The directorate warned that such actions amount to orchestrated misinformation and will be treated accordingly by law enforcement.
Education authorities said the priority remains student safety within school grounds. Measures introduced under the November circular focus on physical security upgrades and clear protocols for preventing stray animals from entering campuses. The directorate urged parents and the public to rely on official communications and to refrain from sharing unverified content that harms educators or sows panic.
As the police inquiry proceeds, the directorate pledged to keep schools and families informed of any developments. The case highlights the speed at which misinformation can spread and the potential harm it causes to frontline public servants. Authorities concluded by reiterating that the Delhi dog counting hoax is entirely false and that those responsible for creating or amplifying it will face legal scrutiny.
Key Takeaways:
- Delhi Education Directorate has declared the social media claim that teachers were ordered to count stray dogs as false — the Delhi dog counting hoax is fabricated.
- Directorate officials have filed a formal complaint with Delhi Police and preserved digital evidence to investigate the origin and spread of the posts.
- The November 20, 2025 circular sought only enhanced school security following a Supreme Court directive; it did not assign any non‑teaching duties to teachers.
- Authorities warn of legal action against those who deliberately spread misinformation and damage teachers’ reputations.
