IIT-Bombay protest: Director signs 18-point charter after students demand reforms over student’s death

IIT-Bombay students ended a three-day sit-in near the campus main gate after Director Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter late Sept 20, agreeing to take forward the protesters’ demands following nearly three hours of discussions.

The agreement comes amid protests over the death of 22-year-old second-year student Sahil Wakode on Sept 18 and growing demands for accountability from the institute administration.

One of the charter’s key demands concerns Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating the examination attended by Wakode shortly before his death. When students raised the issue during the meeting, Kedare was heard saying that the institute would “follow the process”.

An institute official later indicated that the matter would be handled according to due procedure, clarifying that signing the charter did not necessarily mean an immediate decision had been taken on every individual demand.

The 18-point charter covers the investigation into Wakode’s death as well as proposed changes to IIT-Bombay’s academic, disciplinary and student-welfare systems.

Students have demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death, with an interim report to be submitted by Sept 30 and a final report by Oct 15.

They have also sought an open house with the director, Dean of Student Affairs and other senior officials. Another demand is an apology over what the protesters described as the public “defamation” of Wakode.

The charter also proposes several institutional reforms. These include introducing a code of conduct for professors, sensitizing faculty and staff about mental health, strengthening in-person counseling services and revising the Disciplinary Action Committee process.

Students have further called for greater representation in institutional decision-making and proposed a task force involving students, faculty members, mental-health professionals and external experts. The proposed body would examine student distress and recommend preventive measures.

The demands also include improvements to mental-health and medical services, including a 24-hour psychiatrist-on-call facility at the institute hospital.

Under the charter, IIT-Bombay is expected to provide a written implementation plan by Sept 26. Students have also sought an assurance that those participating peacefully in the protest will not face disciplinary action.

The charter further states that the director should resign if the proposed reforms are not implemented within a month.

The protest follows an examination-related incident involving Wakode, a second-year Energy Science and Engineering student. He was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination on Sept 18.

According to IIT-Bombay, Wakode had uploaded the examination question paper to an AI platform to seek answers. The institute said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him and that he was counselled and assured that the incident would not affect his academic career. Wakode was later found dead in his hostel room.

Professor Doolla has been named in the FIR registered by Mumbai Police following a complaint from Wakode’s parents. Police have registered a case of abetment of suicide and invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the family alleged caste-based harassment. The investigation has since been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.

IIT-Bombay has denied the allegation of caste discrimination, saying Wakode had not submitted any such complaint to the institute’s SC/ST cell or administration.

The IIT-Bombay Faculty Forum has also backed Doolla, stating that he was carrying out his examination invigilation responsibilities according to academic procedures approved by the institute.

The forum said it was concerned about the “tarnishing” of Doolla’s reputation and maintained that the professor had reported the alleged examination malpractice through the prescribed procedure.

Meanwhile, a few videos circulating on social media purportedly show the resignation of the IIT-Bombay director. There has been no official confirmation of the resignation, and the authenticity of the videos has not been independently verified.

Sources on the evening of September 20 had indicated that the IIT-Bombay administration was considering several steps, including the possibility of the director’s resignation.

The institute is expected to present details of the agreement reached Sunday night to students at an open house on Monday. The protesting students will then decide whether to continue their agitation.

The IIT-Bombay Board of Governors is also expected to meet as the police investigation into Wakode’s death continues.