IIT Bombay students protest.
NEW DELHI: IIT-Bombay’s faculty forum on Monday came out in support of prof Suryanarayana Doolla, after the institute removed him as dean (administrative affairs) amid protests over the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode.Also check: IIT Bombay Student Suicide Live Updates: Forensic team reaches campus; students await open house with directorThe faculty forum said Doolla had been temporarily relieved of his administrative duties to facilitate an independent and unbiased investigation into Wakode’s death, and clarified that he continues to be a faculty member at the institute.
Faculty forum marches in support
In a statement, faculty forum president prof Rajkumar S Pant said, “We would like to clarify that contrary to several media reports, Prof Suryanarayana Doolla has not been suspended from his service from IIT Bombay and continues to be a member of the institute’s faculty in good standing.”The forum said Doolla, during his tenure as dean (student affairs), had been instrumental in setting up several initiatives for the welfare of students on campus.“The Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay stands strongly with our colleague Prof Suryanarayana Doolla,” the statement said, while expressing concern over what it called “false and misleading media reports” about him.The forum also announced a campus march from the Nandan Nilekani Main Building on Monday to express solidarity with Doolla.
Doolla named in FIR
IIT-Bombay removed Doolla from the post of dean (administrative affairs) with immediate effect amid protests following Wakode’s death. Doolla has been named in an FIR filed on the basis of the student’s family’s complaint.Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Crime Branch is investigating the case.Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on the institute’s Powai campus on September 18.
Congress protests, student’s father alleges ‘casteism’
The student’s death has triggered protests on the IIT-Bombay campus, with students raising allegations of academic pressure, caste discrimination and institutional harassment.Police on Monday detained Youth Congress workers who were protesting outside the IIT-Bombay gate. Security in and around the campus was also increased following the protests.Wakode’s father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged that his son had faced caste-based mocking and harassment from a professor and the institute administration. He claimed that his son had spoken about being repeatedly mocked and targeted on caste lines.The family has demanded a probe into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.
IIT-Bombay apologises over earlier statement
The institute issued a public apology after students accused it of “defaming” Wakode without a detailed inquiry.“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,” IIT-Bombay said.
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In an earlier statement, the institute had said Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. It had said no disciplinary action had been initiated against him.
Open House awaited
Amid the protests, IIT-Bombay announced to hold an Open House with students on Monday at the Convocation Hall. Students have been asked to submit their questions through a designated form, with the queries to be taken up during the moderated session.The interaction is expected to give students an opportunity to raise their concerns and demands directly with the institute authorities.
