District officials say no authorised closure order has been issued
The Shimla district administration has termed a circulating letter that purportedly ordered the closure of all educational institutions in the district as fake, and asked students, parents and institutions to rely only on official communications for such announcements.
The viral document, which has been widely shared on social media and other platforms, claims that all government and private educational establishments — including schools, colleges, Anganwadi centres, ITIs, polytechnics, coaching centres and nursing institutes — would remain closed on August 10. The letter also bears a name and signature presented as belonging to the District Magistrate and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, Shimla.
"The letter is fake. No such orders have been issued by the administration," said Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, adding that the document circulating online should not be treated as an official order.
Administration reiterates authorised communication channels
Officials emphasised that any holiday or closure of educational institutions is announced only through authorised channels of the district administration or the concerned department. The Deputy Commissioner urged members of the public not to forward or repost unverified documents and to confirm any such orders directly from official sources.
- Authorities said the fake letter appears to misuse the District Magistrate's name and signature.
- The DC warned that creating forged documents and misusing official names or signatures is a serious offence and action will be taken against those responsible according to law.
- Parents, students and institution heads were advised to verify information via district administration announcements or the concerned education department.
What schools and parents should do
While the administration did not issue any separate operational guidance in its clarification, the statement makes clear the appropriate verification route. Educational institutions and parents concerned about possible closures should:
- Check official district administration channels and verified departmental notices.
- Contact their institution's management for confirmatory communication.
- Avoid sharing images or copies of unverified notices on social media.
The administration's statement did not list a specific helpline number in the clarification, but it reiterated reliance on recognised official mediums for announcements.
Legal consequences flagged
Deputy Commissioner Kashyap underlined that misuse of official identity — including forging documents or signatures — attracts legal consequences. The administration said it would proceed against persons who circulate such counterfeit orders "as per the law."
| Issue | Administration position |
|---|---|
| Viral closure letter | Declared fake; not to be treated as official |
| Who issued closures | No authorised order issued by district administration |
| Action | Possible legal action against creators/sharers |
Given the potential disruption that false notices can cause to examinations, class schedules and childcare arrangements, the administration's clarification aims to prevent confusion ahead of the academic calendar. Educational institutions typically await formal orders from district or state education authorities before announcing holidays or closures.
Residents were reminded that confirmation of any official order should be sought only through the district administration's authorised communications or the concerned department to avoid misinformation and unnecessary disruption.
