School Teachers Deployed for Stray Dog Counting Exercise in Delhi? State Government Clarifies

Delhi, December 29: The Delhi government issued a clarification on Monday, December 29, saying that school teachers have not been deployed to conduct a field-level census of stray dogs. The controversy arose following a Directorate of Education (DoE) directive aimed at addressing public safety concerns.

While the government has dismissed claims of a "dog census" duty for teachers, it confirmed that educational institutions are required to nominate "nodal officers" to coordinate on stray dog-related issues within their premises. ‘Make the Streets Completely Free of Stray Dogs’: Supreme Court Orders Immediate Removal of Dogs From Delhi-NCR Streets.

No School Teachers Deployed for Stray Dog Counting Exercise: Govt

According to official sources, the DoE’s Caretaking Branch instructed District Education Officers to compile a list of nominated nodal officers from schools, stadiums, and sports complexes. These officers, typically existing staff members, will serve as the primary points of contact for local authorities regarding the presence of stray dogs.

Under the directive, schools must display the contact details of these nodal officers prominently. Their role is limited to administrative coordination, such as reporting aggressive animals to municipal bodies, rather than conducting actual population counts or field surveys. Dog Attack in Delhi: 6-Year-Old Girl Dies of Rabies Weeks After Being Attacked by Rabid Stray Dog in Pooth Kalan, Family Demands Action Against MCD Officials.

The government’s move is rooted in a landmark Supreme Court order dated November 7, 2025. Expressing concern over a "disturbing increase" in dog-bite incidents, the Court directed states and Union Territories to "forthwith" remove stray dogs from sensitive public areas, including educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, and bus stands.

The court’s mandate requires these animals to be relocated to shelters after being sterilised and vaccinated. The Delhi government noted that identifying nodal officers in schools is a "top priority" task to ensure compliance with these judicial safety standards.

The initial reports of "dog-counting duties" triggered a sharp reaction from the Government School Teachers’ Association (GSTA). Representatives argued that educators should not be diverted toward non-academic tasks that could interfere with student learning. "Teaching is a noble profession, but now we are being linked to stray dog management," said Krishna Phogat of the GSTA. Although the government has now clarified that no field-level counting is required, teachers’ groups remain wary of the increasing administrative burden placed on school staff for civic issues.

Delhi is not the first region to utilise civil servants for animal management tasks. Similar deployment orders for stray dog management and sterilisation oversight have recently been reported in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2025 05:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).