Delhi Teacher Suspended for Spreading Misinformation About Stray Dog Circular

A Delhi government school teacher has been suspended for allegedly disseminating false information regarding an official circular on the appointment of nodal officers for stray dogs in educational institutions.

Education Minister Ashish Sood addressed the situation on Friday, stating that while teachers have the democratic right to oppose government policies, protest, or raise demands, spreading misleading information crosses a line.

“If a teacher abandons official duty, uses inappropriate language against the government in a political context, and circulates incorrect information, disciplinary action is inevitable,” Sood emphasized. “Anyone spreading fake news will face consequences.”

The Directorate of Education (DoE) issued an order placing the trained graduate teacher “under suspension with immediate effect.” This decision quickly became politically charged, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj publicly condemning the action on social media.

The controversy has escalated further with Delhi Police registering an FIR following a complaint from the DoE about the alleged misinformation circulating on social media regarding the circular. The case was filed under sections 353 (statements conducive to public mischief) and 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unknown persons.

Minister Sood criticized AAP for what he described as deliberately spreading misinformation. During a press conference, he read out the DoE circular in question and challenged claims that it instructed teachers to count stray dogs. He accused the party of engaging in “shoot-and-scoot” politics and playing the victim card.

“Delhi government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of school campuses,” Sood stated. “In contrast, AAP functionaries are spreading false propaganda and fake news against Delhi government. Strict legal action will be taken against such people and social media handles, and the process has already begun.”

The minister demanded that AAP convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal apologize for promoting what he termed a “false narrative” about the circular’s content and intent.

The controversy highlights the increasingly contentious political environment in Delhi, where education policies have become battlegrounds between the BJP-led central government and AAP, which previously controlled the Delhi government.

In response to these allegations, AAP’s Bharadwaj countered that the “BJP government, exposed over orders that effectively put Delhi government school teachers in charge of monitoring stray dogs, has begun filing FIRs against AAP.” He characterized the cases as “frivolous” and maintained that AAP would not be intimidated.

Bharadwaj further criticized what he perceived as selective enforcement, claiming that while a teacher was suspended for criticizing the order, the government failed to take action against a student functionary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) who allegedly slapped a professor and circulated the video online.

The AAP leader labeled the teacher’s suspension as “anti-education” and accused the government of disrespecting the teaching profession.

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions between political parties in Delhi and raises questions about freedom of expression for government employees, particularly in the education sector. It also highlights how issues related to school safety and administrative responsibilities can quickly become politicized in a charged electoral environment.