IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare has signed an 18-point charter presented by protesting students, following the tragic death by suicide of a second-year BTech student. This development comes as the Mumbai Crime Branch prepares to summon Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and others for questioning in connection with the student's death.
Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department, was discovered deceased in his Hostel Number 4 room on the Powai campus on Friday evening. His death occurred just hours after he was reportedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by Powai police under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide) and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This action followed a complaint from Wakode's parents, who alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination contributed to his death. Professor Doolla, an invigilator during the examination, has been named as an accused in the case.
IIT Bombay, however, has denied allegations of caste discrimination, stating that no complaint from Wakode was ever submitted to its SC/ST cell or administration. The institute also clarified that while Wakode was allegedly caught uploading the exam paper to ChatGPT, no disciplinary action was taken. Instead, the instructor and Head of Department counselled him, assuring him the incident would not impact his academic career.
Students had staged a three-day sit-in protest near the campus main gate, demanding accountability and systemic reforms. Their core demands included immediate action against Professor Doolla, an independent investigation into Wakode's death, and comprehensive changes to the institute's academic, disciplinary, and student welfare systems.
The 18-point charter, signed by Director Kedare after extensive discussions, outlines several critical demands. These include an independent investigation into Wakode's death, with an interim report due by September 30 and a final report by October 15. Students also called for an open house with senior officials, an apology for what they termed public "defamation" of Wakode, and the Director's resignation if proposed reforms are not implemented within a month.
Further demands in the charter focus on broader institutional improvements, such as establishing a code of conduct for professors, sensitizing faculty and staff to mental health issues, enhancing in-person counselling services, reforming the Disciplinary Action Committee process, and increasing student representation in decision-making. Students proposed a task force comprising students, faculty, mental health professionals, and external experts to address student distress. They also sought improved mental health and medical services, including a 24-hour psychiatrist-on-call facility at the institute hospital, a written implementation plan by September 26, and assurance that no action would be taken against peaceful protesters.
During the meeting, when pressed on action against Professor Doolla, Director Kedare stated the institute would "follow the process," indicating the matter would be handled through established procedures rather than immediate decisions. Social media claims regarding the Director's resignation remained unconfirmed and unverified.