Delhi police on Friday registered an FIR after a flurry of social media posts claimed that government school teachers had been instructed to count stray dogs instead of teaching children. The police action followed a formal complaint from the Directorate of Education (DoE), which said the allegation was wholly false and damaging to the reputation of the education department.
Delhi misinformation FIR
Education Minister Ashish Sood told a press conference that the false post — originally shared by political circles tied to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — suggested teachers were being diverted from classroom duties to tally stray animals. Mr Sood said the post, attributed in part to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, was a deliberate untruth intended to spread fear among teachers and to undermine public confidence in the department.
The DoE has made clear that no circular, guideline or policy has ever instructed teachers to count stray dogs. The complaint lodged at the Civil Lines police station alleges that unidentified malicious actors posted misleading and inflammatory material on social media platforms, in turn creating confusion among school staff and the public.
According to the complaint, some social media users portrayed themselves as teachers and shared staged videos and images purporting to show staff engaged in counting stray animals. The DoE called for an immediate probe into those accounts and urged appropriate legal and criminal action against anyone found to be spreading fabricated content.
Mr Sood displayed a small AAP-branded election card at the briefing and described it as a “victim card” used as part of what he characterised as the party’s political strategy. He said the party was free to campaign on social media but that the government would pursue all available legal avenues to counter false propaganda.
As part of its response, the Delhi government released a list of social media handles it said were responsible for sharing the misleading claims. Police and DoE officials said they would investigate those accounts and identify the individuals behind them, while reserving the right to pursue criminal charges under relevant provisions of the law.
The episode highlights how quickly unfounded social media narratives can spread and affect public institutions. The DoE emphasised the potential harm such rumours can cause to teachers’ morale and to public trust in government schools, noting that misinformation can distract educational staff from their core duties and sow unnecessary panic among parents.
Delhi’s authorities have sought to strike a balance between protecting free expression and curbing deliberate disinformation. The FIR reflects a growing tendency among Indian state bodies to take formal legal action when falsehoods circulate with apparent intent to mislead or to destabilise institutions.
Police said their investigation is ongoing and that further details would be made available once enquiries identify the sources of the posts. For now, the DoE has reiterated its position: there is no policy instructing teachers to count stray dogs, and the claims circulating on social media are unfounded.
Key Takeaways:
- Delhi police registered an FIR after social media posts falsely claimed teachers were ordered to count stray dogs, prompting a Directorate of Education complaint.
- Education Minister Ashish Sood accused AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of spreading the falsehood; the government shared a list of offending social media handles.
- The Directorate of Education reiterated no such circular or policy exists, saying the misinformation aimed to unsettle teachers and damage the department’s reputation.
- Delhi misinformation FIR signals stronger legal action against deliberate online falsehoods tied to political messaging.
