IIT-B's Prof Doolla had issued anti-bias advisories in 2023, 2024

An email issued by IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla in 2024, urging students to avoid questions that could reveal a fellow student’s caste or social background, has resurfaced amid allegations of caste discrimination against him following the death of student Sahil Wakode.

However, the advisory was not issued as a one-off communication. Such emails were part of a yearly practice at IIT Bombay, according to Sumit Yadav, who served as Institute Secretary, Hostel Affairs when Doolla was Dean, Student Affairs. Yadav also shared his own experience of working with Doolla, saying he had not witnessed caste-based discrimination by the professor.

“From my experience working with him, Professor Doolla has been a helpful and supportive person. I have never seen him discriminate against anyone based on their caste or identity,” Yadav said.

Doolla served as Dean, Student Affairs in 2023 and 2024 and shared the advisories during those years, Yadav confirmed.

In the 2024 communication, Doolla cautioned students against asking their peers about their birth or admission category, JEE Advanced ranks, GATE scores or other details that could potentially reveal their caste.

The advisory said that questions about a student's birth or admission category could lead to conscious or subconscious bias. It stressed the importance of maintaining an inclusive campus environment where students could interact without distinctions based on caste, religion or socioeconomic status.

“It is equally inappropriate for any person (students/ staff/ faculty-members) to ask other students about their JEE (Advanced) ranks/GATE-scores, or any other information that may reveal the caste or other related aspects. While the person asking the question may feel it is innocent, and it may be driven purely by curiosity, asking the question can often have an adverse impact on the other student. Asking could appear like an attempt to find the caste, and may set the stage for discrimination,” the 2023 and 2024 email accessed by India Today Digital read.

Doolla also referred to IIT Bombay's implementation of the Constitution's reservation policy and the need to provide equal opportunities to students admitted to the institute.

The communication was part of the annual advisories sent during Doolla's tenure as Dean, Student Affairs, rather than a response to a specific complaint or incident. IIT Bombay's mail to students, faculty ADVISORY RESURFACES AMID CASTE DISCRIMINATION ALLEGATIONS

The email has gained attention as IIT Bombay faces scrutiny over allegations of caste discrimination following the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at the institute.

Wakode's death led to student protests on campus and renewed discussions around student welfare, caste discrimination and institutional accountability. His family has also raised allegations of caste-based discrimination involving Professor Doolla.

The allegations against Doolla remain subject to investigation. The existence of the advisory, by itself, does not establish whether the allegations against him are true or false.

Doolla's communications from his tenure as Dean, Student Affairs therefore provide context on the institute's annual messaging around caste-related questions and discrimination, while the current allegations are being examined separately.

Further details in the investigation into Wakode's death and the allegations surrounding the case are awaited.- EndsRead | IIT Delhi expands mental health, grievance support for studentsRead | IIT Bombay mid-sem exams shifted to October 10-11, timetable unchanged