IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point student charter on September 20, 2026, after three days of protests following the death by suicide of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode. The agreement came after a nearly three-hour meeting between the administration and protesting students at the Powai campus.The IIT Bombay 18-Point Student Charter includes demands related to an independent investigation, student welfare, academic disciplinary procedures, healthcare, grievance redressal and institutional accountability. Signing the document does not mean that every demand has already been implemented. The administration said the demands would be discussed further, including by the Board of Governors.What Are the 18 Demands?The IIT Bombay student demands include the following:Immediate suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and action against stakeholders found responsible after investigation.A public apology over what students described as the “defamation” of Sahil Wakode.An open house with the Director, Dean of Student Affairs, Dean of Academic Programmes and Sahil’s department head.Resignation of the Director, Dean AP and Dean SA if specified reforms are not implemented within a month, along with weekly progress updates.An independent probe involving professors, students and external members into Sahil’s death and the emergency and hospital response.Financial and continued assistance for four families who have recently lost a loved one at the institute.Voting rights and equal student representation on committees dealing with student-related matters.Review of institutional decisions affecting student culture that were made without student consultation.A formal mechanism and timeline for complaints and escalation against professors.Changes in academic malpractice procedures, including mentors, student companions and a student-selected buddy, with interactions documented.At least one counsellor for every 250 students, independent audits of the Student Wellness Centre and counsellors in hostels.Better hospital services, including a 24/7 psychiatrist on call, qualified emergency and night-shift doctors, mental-health training and feedback systems.Compulsory mental-health sensitisation workshops for professors and staff who regularly interact with students.At least 20 hours of dedicated weekly access to the Dean of Student Affairs, with written responses within 48 hours.Administrative support to keep hostel wings together and maintain students’ support networks.An online student concerns portal displaying complaints and administrative responses.A student well-being task force involving students, faculty, mental-health professionals and external experts, with semester-wise reports.A written assurance that students taking part peacefully in the protest will face no disciplinary, hostel, financial, legal or indirect penalties.What Happened to Sahil Wakode?Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, died by suicide on September 18. IIT Bombay said he had allegedly been found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to an AI platform."The institute said no suspension or other disciplinary action had been initiated against him and that he was counselled after the examination incident. His family, however, made allegations of caste-based harassment. IIT Bombay has denied those allegations, saying Wakode had not filed a caste-discrimination complaint with the institute or its SC/ST Cell. The matter is under police investigation. "Related Instagram Video :IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare Signs 18-Point StudentWhat Is the Status of Professor Doolla?Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating the examination, was removed from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs but remained a faculty member at the time of the charter discussions. Students had sought stronger action against him. The institute said any further action would follow due process.The charter also sets deadlines: students sought a written response within 24 hours and an implementation plan by September 26. An open house was also scheduled to discuss the demands with students.The Shireesh Kedare IIT Bombay controversy therefore involves both the investigation into Wakode’s death and wider demands for IIT Bombay student welfare reforms, academic accountability and institutional reforms.Also Read : IIT Bombay Student Suicide Case: Why Professor Doolla Was Removed and What Students Want
