New Delhi: Amid protests over the death of a 20-year-old student, the IIT Bombay administration has said that it will review its exam punishment rules at the upcoming Senate meeting and establish a more student-friendly grievance-redressal system to allow students to track the status of their complaints.
The announcement was made by the institute’s director, Shireesh Kedare, during an open house, where several students raised concerns about unresolved grievances and handling of student affairs.
The discussions come amid protests following the death of second-year B.Tech student Sahil Wakode, and demands for changes to the institute’s student welfare and academic malpractice procedures.
Kedare also said the institute would provide “all possible legal support” to Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been accused of abetting Wakode’s suicide, as faculty members and a section of students held a silent march in his support.
He added that the institute would review its examination punishment rules at the upcoming Senate meeting and establish a more “student-friendly grievance-redressal system “that would allow students to track the status of their complaints”. Referring to the march during the open house, part of which was live-streamed by students, Kedare said, “It’s not only the energy systems department. It’s everybody. That’s evident from faculty joining from across departments. Staff members are also part of it.”
He further said, “The institute has also gathered all possible legal support because it’s an unfortunate incident. We understand your feelings. We acknowledge [them], and we are trying to do our maximum. At the root of it is proper dialogue between students and faculty, and extensive training between students and faculty.”
The campus has been on edge since Friday, when Wakode was found dead in his hostel room, hours after appearing for a mid-semester examination. In a statement Saturday, IIT Bombay said Wakode had uploaded the exam question paper to ChatGPT on his phone to seek answers.
On Monday, the institute apologised for statements in its earlier communication about the circumstances surrounding his death. The institute also called an emergent meeting of the board of directors where it discussed the matter.
Protesting students Sunday put forward 18 demands, including an independent probe into Wakode’s death, suspension of Professor Doolla, stronger student grievance mechanisms, greater student representation, and improved mental-health support, including counsellors and a 24/7 psychiatrist.
IIT Bombay suspended Professor Doolla from his duties as Dean, but did not suspend him from the institute.
However, protesting students expressed dissatisfaction over the decision and said they would continue their agitation till justice is served.
Student representatives, in a statement issued late Monday night, said the matter should remain “student-led” and be addressed within the institute, without external “political interests” or organisations shaping the concerns of the IIT Bombay student community.
They said the protests were not intended to justify academic misconduct, but aimed at raising “systemic issues” and seeking institutional reforms. The representatives said their demands had been formally submitted to the director, who had acknowledged and signed them and agreed to work towards implementing them within specified timelines.
On Professor Doolla, the representatives said their position had “never been one of presuming guilt or prejudging the ongoing investigation”. They said they stood with him as a member of the faculty community and wanted the investigation to proceed “fairly and impartially”.
They clarified that their demand was for Doolla to be relieved of his administrative duties as Dean of Administrative Affairs during the investigation as a precautionary measure, and said findings and any action should follow the established investigative process.
Faculty, students back Professor Doolla
IIT Bombay faculty members have come out in support of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, saying they “stand strongly” with their colleague. The statement was issued by the Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay, which represents around 750 faculty members.
The faculty forum said it was “distressed by the vilification” of Doolla’s reputation through what it called “false and misleading reports” in the media. At the same time, it said it was “pained by the sad demise” of the student, and described the incident as unfortunate.
In another statement, current and former students and research scholars of IIT Bombay’s Power Engineering Laboratory backed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, describing him as an “approachable, fair, and deeply supportive” mentor. While acknowledging that the matter was under official inquiry, they said justice required “truth, context, and due process”.
Faculty members of IIT Madras also extended support to Doolla, with the institute’s Faculty Association calling for a “fair, transparent and time-bound” inquiry into the incident.
The association said faculty entrusted with maintaining examination integrity must be able to perform their duties “in good faith” and without fear of “personal vilification”. It urged that no individual be held publicly responsible before the inquiry is complete and called for greater student support, counselling and safeguards when handling academic malpractice.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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