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Earlier, false news was circulating, claiming that teachers from both government and private schools were asked to conduct stray dog census.
The SC had directed states and UTs to take measures against threats posed by stray dogs. (Representative Image)
The Delhi government clarified that it has not instructed school teachers to conduct a citywide census of stray dogs. Earlier, false news was circulating, claiming that teachers from both government and private schools would be involved in this task. The Directorate of Education stated that this was fake news.
“In view of misinformation being circulated in sections of the print media regarding the assignment of specific duties to teachers, it is hereby clarified that no such directions have been issued by the Directorate of Education,” a statement by Directorate of Education (DoE) said.
As per the circular, the DoE has directed schools and other educational institutions to nominate nodal officers to coordinate on stray dog-related issues. District Education Officers (DEOs) have been instructed to compile details of nominated nodal officers from schools, stadiums and sports complexes under their jurisdiction. These details include the officer’s name, designation, contact number and email ID.
Officials stressed that the responsibility of implementation lies with school heads and civic bodies, not classroom teachers.
The focus, the DoE said, is on practical safety measures. These include repairing and strengthening boundary walls, gates and fencing, appointing a nodal officer for each institution, and displaying contact details prominently at school entrances. Institutions have also been asked to share nodal officer details with local civic agencies.
Schools will also conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on safe behaviour around animals, first aid in case of dog bites and immediate reporting protocols.
The clarification came amid confusion over recent directives issued to educational institutions regarding stray dog-related matters.
The fake notice claimed that the District Education Officers were designated as nodal officers and were directed to provide the details of the selected teachers to the Directorate of Education.
Earlier, states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh had instructed teachers to conduct stray dog surveys, which led to protests in several regions.
This followed the Supreme Court’s suo motu writ petition on November 7, addressing the rise in dog attacks on students within school premises. The court directed states and Union Territories to take measures against the threat. The judgment clearly indicated that local bodies, including city corporations, municipalities, and gram panchayats, should be responsible for controlling stray dogs.
The Supreme Court earlier issued comprehensive directives requiring all educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, railway stations, bus stands, and depots to be adequately fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs, citing a significant increase in dog-bite incidents nationwide.
A special three-judge bench highlighted that local self-government bodies are in charge of capturing stray dogs from these areas and relocating them to designated shelters after vaccination and sterilisation, as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The bench clarified that these animals should not be returned to the same locations once removed.
“Permitting the same would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs,” the court observed in its order.
Additionally, the court instructed local bodies to conduct periodic inspections to ensure that no stray dog colonies or feeding zones develop within institutional or public premises.
December 29, 2025, 13:35 IST
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