Prominent author and activist Sudheendra Kulkarni has strongly criticized the automatic assignment of guilt based on caste in certain student suicide cases, labeling the phenomenon "reverse casteism." Kulkarni specifically called for the withdrawal of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act case against IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla, emphasizing that no action should be taken without established guilt.
The controversy stems from the tragic death by suicide of IIT Bombay undergraduate Sahil Wakode on September 18. Wakode's death occurred hours after Professor Doolla, who was invigilating, reported an alleged incident of academic malpractice involving a smartphone during a mid-semester examination. Following Wakode's death, his father filed a police complaint alleging caste-based discrimination and harassment by Doolla, leading to an FIR against the professor for alleged abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act.
Kulkarni, in an appeal to IIT alumni and faculty, staunchly supported Professor Doolla, highlighting his stellar academic credentials and numerous accolades. He argued that the situation following Wakode's death represented "an absolute perversion of the basic principle of justice – 'Innocent until proven guilty.'"
The activist condemned the practice of automatically blaming individuals from "upper castes" when a student from a Scheduled Caste or Tribe community dies by suicide, particularly when it leads to punishment under the SC/ST Act. He described this trend as "reverse casteism" and advocated for a comprehensive national debate to reform the existing law.
Kulkarni also raised concerns about the broader implications for India's higher education system. He warned that the "Sword of Damocles" posed by the SC/ST Act could deter patriotic Indian academics from reputable universities abroad from returning to take up faculty positions at IITs. He pointed to existing faculty shortages across IITs, citing reports of thousands of vacant posts.
Beyond legal reforms, Kulkarni urged IITs and other higher education institutions to enhance campus life and implement additional coaching and peer-support initiatives, particularly for students from marginalized communities. He emphasized the need to actively counter casteism and communalism on campuses while fostering an intellectual environment that promotes critical thinking and respects diverse ideas.
Concluding his appeal, Kulkarni urged the IIT community to stand in solidarity with Professor Doolla and collectively raise their voices against the misuse of the SC/ST Act, underscoring the vital role of faculty dedication in maintaining the reputation of India's premier institutions.