IIT Bombay student suicide row live: Professor Doolla removed as Dean, 18-point charter signed
The death by suicide of a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has led to protests and, subsequently, the removal of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his position as Dean at the Institute. The incident has also brought into question matters concerning academic discipline, student welfare and the conduct of the administration. Sahil Wakode, a student of the BTech programme in Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.
The Institute had initially stated that the student uploaded the examination paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers. It has since apologised for its earlier communication, stating that the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death remain under investigation and that details ought not to have been characterised before the facts were established.
Following the incident, students began a protest on the campus and held a sit-in near the main gate of the Institute.
The protest continued for three days, with students, including those from the humanities departments, seeking an independent inquiry into Wakode's death, changes in disciplinary procedures, greater administrative accountability and improvements in student mental-health services.
On the evening of the 20th of September, Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, signed an eighteen-point charter submitted by the protesting students following a meeting with their representatives. The charter contains demands for an independent investigation, greater transparency in administrative matters, changes to disciplinary procedures, improved grievance redressal, stronger counselling services and greater student participation in matters concerning their welfare.
The position of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has also become a matter of dispute.
Professor Doolla has been named in a First Information Report following a complaint by the student's family. IIT Bombay has since removed him from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs. The protesting students have sought further action against him in his capacity as a professor, while the Institute has stated that due process will be followed.
The charter also calls for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death. The students have sought an interim report by the 30th of September and a final report by the 15th of October.
Other demands include stronger counselling services, faculty sensitisation, a task force on student distress and greater administrative accountability.
The incident has therefore developed into a wider discussion concerning academic pressure, student welfare, disciplinary procedures and institutional responsibility. With the investigation continuing, attention is now upon the implementation of the eighteen-point charter and the steps to be taken by the Institute.
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IIT Bombay has apologised for its earlier communication about Sahil Wakodeβs death, saying it was inappropriate to characterise the circumstances before the investigation had established the facts. The institute said the circumstances leading to the death remain under investigation.
Huma Namal, a PhD scholar in the Humanities, was among the students involved in leading the protest at IIT Bombay. She has been associated with SFI/The Collective Marxist, according to descriptions of her student activism.
The three-day protest at IIT Bombay was led by a group of students who raised demands concerning the inquiry into Sahil Wakodeβs death, disciplinary procedures and student welfare. Among those involved were Humanities students Huma Namal and Amarkant Thakur.
Professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been removed from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs. Students have also sought action against him as a professor.
Director Professor Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter submitted by protesting students on September 20. The charter covers student welfare, disciplinary procedures, grievance redressal and institutional accountability.
