IIT Bombay professor accused of caste bias removed as dean amid student suicide row
Doolla's removal came after IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by protesting students on September 20.
PTC News Desk: IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla has been removed from his position as dean, three days after the death of second-year engineering student Sahil Wakode.
Wakode died on September 18, hours after he was reportedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. Doolla, who teaches in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was the invigilator during the exam and reported the alleged malpractice to senior officials.
According to IIT Bombay's earlier account, Wakode was later counselled and allowed to leave without disciplinary action.
Students demand accountability
Doolla's removal came after IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by protesting students on September 20.
Students had been protesting for three days, calling for accountability over Wakode's death, an independent investigation and changes to the institute's academic and student-welfare systems. The demand for action against Doolla was one of the key points.
The institute had earlier said Wakode was allegedly found using his phone during the exam and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform, including ChatGPT, to seek answers. It said he was counselled afterward and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career.
Other demands from students
The 18-point charter also calls for:
A code of conduct for faculty members
Greater mental-health awareness and sensitisation
Better counselling services
Changes to the disciplinary process
Greater student representation
A task force involving students, faculty, mental-health professionals and external experts to examine student distress on campus
IIT Bombay has also apologised for its earlier statement about Wakode's death, saying that the circumstances leading up to the incident are still under investigation.
The institute also clarified that Director Prof Shireesh Kedare has not resigned and will continue in his position, despite reports and social media claims suggesting otherwise.
With action against Doolla now formally taken, attention is on the proposed independent inquiry and the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode's death.