IIT-Bombay on Monday removed Suryanarayana Doolla as dean of Administrative Affairs following protests by students and political activists over the suicide of a 22-year-old student. A case of abetment and caste discrimination has been registered against Doolla.
The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay also issued a public apology for its earlier communication that characterised the events preceding the death of the student, Sahil Wakode, before a detailed inquiry was completed.
Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering hailing from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
The Mumbai Police have booked Doolla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following a complaint lodged by Sahil’s family.
In an email to students, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare confirmed the removal of Doolla, who previously served as the Dean of Student Affairs, from the current post.
Doolla, who is a professor, continues to remain in the faculty.
"In view of the ongoing investigation, it was inappropriate to have set out or characterised details relating to the events preceding Sahil’s demise before they had been duly established through the appropriate investigative process," the institute said in its statement on Monday, retracting its earlier assertion that Sahil was caught cheating but faced no disciplinary action.
However, student groups expressed dissatisfaction with the move, demanding his suspension as a faculty member.
On Monday evening, the faculty members held a march in the institute's campus to support Doolla. The Faculty Forum said that he followed "Senate-approved exam procedure” when he reported the student for alleged phone use on September 18.
Defending Doolla, the forum issued a statement, noting his key role in launching several student welfare initiatives during his tenure as Dean of Student Affairs.
"We are distressed by the vilification of our colleague's reputation through false and misleading media reports," the forum stated.
The decision to remove Doolla as dean of Administrative Affairs failed to impress the protesting students, who said they had sought his suspension as a professor and not merely his removal from an administrative position.
The forum said that during his long tenure as Dean, Student Affairs, Doolla was instrumental in setting up several initiatives for the welfare of the student community on campus.
The forum also said it was "distressed by the vilification of our colleague's reputation by false and misleading media reports".
Meanwhile, the IIT Madras Faculty Association also issued a statement expressing solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. It also extended its condolences to the family, friends and classmates of Sahil Wakode.
A statement issued by Professor Ethayaraja Mani, the association president, said, "No words can ease the grief of his parents and family, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to them. We also stand with his friends, classmates and the wider student community of IIT Bombay, who are mourning the loss of one of their own. The death of any student is a loss to the entire academic community, and it is a reminder that our institutions must keep making the wellbeing of every student a central priority."
The statement further read, "At a time of such grief, we believe it is important that the circumstances be examined fairly and through due process. We note the statement of the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum that Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, as course instructor and invigilator, acted in accordance with the Senate-approved academic procedures of the institute."
Faculty members at IIT-Delhi also came out in support of professor Suryanarayana Doolla, saying he was only discharging his duties.
“Professor Doolla was simply discharging his duties at IIT-Bombay during an examination as per the institute's guidelines. It was noted that various allegations against him have been levelled in public without presenting any credible evidence. The forum expresses solidarity with Prof Doolla, his students, and the family, and condemns the tarnishing of his reputation,” the IIT-Delhi Faculty Forum said in a statement.
“There is an apprehension among faculty members regarding the conduct of evaluations and maintaining academic integrity due to the circumstances that prevailed at IIT-Bombay. IIT-Delhi Faculty Forum appeals to the student community, their families, and the entire nation to extend their support so that the faculty can discharge its duties in maintaining the integrity and fairness of the entire IIT system,” it said.
Sahil’s family alleged that he was subjected to systematic institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination.
Sahil’s father Ravindra Wakode claimed that his son was mocked, tortured and discriminated on caste lines and demanded probe into the role of the IIT Bombay administration in his son's death.
The student’s maternal grandmother Shyamlata Tayade claimed that "mental torture' may have been a reason for him to take the extreme step and sought a probe into the institute's administration and the hostel environment.
Calling for the equal treatment of all students, she also said the institute's administration and the hostel environment should be investigated if bright students like Sahil are driven to end their lives.
“At home, Sahil had a lot of support from relatives and others as he was fulfilling everyone's dream of studying at IIT. All relatives would always wish him well," she said.
The student protesters at IIT-Bombay claimed that Sahil faced severe pressure and threats of academic suspension.
Kedare told protesters late Sunday night that he will resign on Monday, but noted he must follow the process. The institute said he has not resigned.
Police detained Youth Congress workers protesting outside the IIT Bombay gate over the student’s suicide.
Security in and around the campus was beefed up after protests by students and Youth Congress workers.
Many local residents and alumni attempted to visit the campus. However, as a precautionary measure, entry was restricted. Only current students and authorised staff can enter, an official said.
Members of political and social organisations gathered outside the main gate of IIT Bombay to protest against the administration.
"A few protesters from outside organisations gathered at the main gate. They were promptly removed from the spot and taken into preventive custody," a police official said.
A student said he stayed in the room next to Sahil’s and they used to hang out regularly. "Students face immense academic pressure here, which the management needs to address. However, I personally never witnessed casteism on campus,” he said.
“On the day of the incident, a professor took Sahil out of the classroom after he was allegedly caught cheating. Something serious must have triggered him to take such an extreme step," the student said.
Student groups and alumni alleged systemic issues within the administration.
Pranav Jeevan, an alumnus, criticised the institute's handling of student affairs and mental health.
"The administration frequently punishes students with arbitrary threats of hostel eviction, suspension, and heavy financial penalties, even fining students up to Rs 1.5 lakh for organising a play,” he said.
“Despite past tragedies, the campus lacks effective caste sensitisation, adequate mental health support, and an empowered SC/ST Cell to address discrimination," he alleged.
Jeevan claimed that official statements released prior to a detailed investigation aimed to protect faculty members, adding that non-compliance with faculty reservation norms remains an unaddressed root issue.
Security has been stepped up around the institute in view of the protests.
Around 50 police personnel, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, and women officers, have been deployed around the campus, while multiple police vans have been stationed at the main gates, an official said.
Mumbai Police Crime Branch is probing the circumstances surrounding the student's death. A police official said the investigation is expected to shed light on reasons which prompted Sahil to take the extreme step.
The NCP (SP) on Monday alleged a "bigger problem" existed and needs to be addressed, adding nobody is pushed to the brink of killing oneself simply because of being caught copying in an examination.
A party spokesperson claimed student suicides outnumber farmer suicides in the country, terming it a "national public health emergency".
(With inputs from PTI)
