Track stray dogs on school premises or face action, principals told, ETEducation
Hubballi: Principals of primary schools, high schools and PU colleges across the state have been directed to identify stray dogs in and around their campuses, failing which they could face disciplinary action. The directive comes at a time when educational institutions are already preoccupied with completing syllabi and preparing students for the SSLC and PU board examinations.
According to instructions issued by the department of school education and literacy, based on a Supreme Court order, headmasters must submit reports on whether stray dogs on campus are sterilised, vaccinated or relocated to shelters. However, many principals have expressed concern, stating that they lack the expertise to verify such details and are compelled to upload assumed information on Google Sheets, leading to confusion and anxiety.
Dr Sandeep Budihal, state president of the Karnataka State Secondary Teachers’ Association, told TOI that the govt order has placed teachers in a difficult position when they are already engaged in educational tours, annual functions, sports meets and pre-board examinations. “We are asked to observe dogs in and around school and college premises. If a dog enters the campus, we ensure it is driven away. But we are also instructed to take photographs and videos of the dogs and prepare a panchanama along with assistant teachers,” he said.
He added that once these details are uploaded to DDPI and DDPU WhatsApp groups, officials seek additional information the very next day without allowing sufficient time. “Apart from the education department, local bodies such as city corporations and municipalities are also demanding details from us. Instead of focusing on educational activities, we are spending our days running behind stray dogs,” he remarked.
Several headmasters of govt high schools in Dharwad district echoed these concerns, stating that teachers were forced to submit an undertaking letter citing Supreme Court writ petition number 17623 of 2025. “A circular was issued on the evening of Jan 3, mandating submission of a panchanama report by Jan 5. How was this possible when Jan 4 was a Sunday?” a headmaster questioned.
Questioning how teachers could determine whether dogs are sterilised, Budihal alleged that the exercise had become a mere formality. “How can we know if a dog is sterilised or not? We are simply filling in ‘yes’. The entire process is being carried out only for formality,” he said.
Budihal further pointed out that the task should have been handled by local bodies but was instead assigned to teachers. “The department had earlier announced that no work other than general elections would be assigned to teachers. However, this task has now been imposed on us,” he alleged.
Echoing similar concerns, Chandrashekhar Nugli, president of the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers Association, said teachers had no objection if they were only required to report information about dogs seen in school or residential compounds. “But insisting on taking photographs and videos, and verifying sterilisation, affects the teaching process in schools. The govt should assign work that helps improve the quality of education,” he urged.
Primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa was unavailable for comment.
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