The Delhi government on Monday clarified that no school teachers have been assigned duties to count stray dogs in the city, countering reports suggesting that educators were being deployed for a census exercise. Government sources said teachers have not been asked to conduct any field-level stray dog counting, and no such directions have been issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE).
The clarification comes amid confusion over recent directives issued to educational institutions on stray dog-related matters. Officials said the DoE had only asked schools, stadiums and sports complexes to nominate nodal officers to coordinate on stray dog-related issues, not to carry out surveys.
Only Consolidated Reports Required
As per a circular issued by the DoE’s Caretaking Branch, District Education Officers (DEOs) were instructed to compile details of nominated nodal officers, including name, designation, contact number and email ID, and forward consolidated district-level reports to the office of the Delhi Chief Secretary.
Individual submissions from schools were not required.
The Delhi government further clarified the following points:
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No directions have been issued by the Directorate of Education assigning specific duties to teachers.
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Circulars issued by the DoE are aimed at preventing stray dog ingress in educational institutions and sports complexes.
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Responsibilities have been assigned to heads of offices, schools and stadia to take security measures, appoint nodal officers and conduct awareness programmes.
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Concerned local bodies and authorities have been directed to implement preventive and safety measures within their respective jurisdictions.
Officials said the nodal officer exercise is linked to public safety concerns and is being carried out in compliance with a Supreme Court order dated November 7, 2025, and directions issued during a review meeting held on November 20. The task was marked as a priority.
Under the directive, nodal officers will act as the point of contact for stray dog-related issues, and their details will be displayed prominently outside school premises to ensure public awareness.
Teachers’ Fears Addressed As Govt Clarifies
Earlier, teachers’ associations had opposed the move, expressing apprehension that educators were being diverted towards non-academic duties and warning that additional responsibilities could impact teaching work and professional dignity.
The government said the latest clarification is aimed at dispelling misinformation, reiterating that teachers are not being deployed for stray dog counting and that the directive is limited to administrative coordination.