IIT Bombay has removed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his position as Dean amid continuing student protests following the death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The action comes after IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by protesting students.Doolla, who was serving as Dean of Administrative Affairs, will continue as a professor in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering and as its head, according to reports. He had earlier also served as Dean of Student Affairs.Key HighlightsProfessor Suryanarayana Doolla has been removed from his dean position at IIT Bombay.The action follows protests over the death by suicide of student Sahil Wakode.IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter submitted by students.Students have demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death.The charter also seeks improvements in counselling, mental-health services and grievance redressal.Doolla remains a professor and head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.Why Did IIT Bombay Remove Professor Doolla?The decision comes amid protests at the IIT Bombay campus following the death of Sahil Wakode on September 18.Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Energy Science and Engineering department, was involved in an examination incident shortly before his death. IIT Bombay had said that he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had used an AI platform to seek answers.Professor Doolla was the course instructor and examination invigilator during the examination. His name was later included in a police complaint filed by Wakode’s family. The allegations made by the family are part of an ongoing investigation.IIT Bombay’s Faculty Forum has publicly supported Doolla, stating that he was carrying out his responsibilities as an invigilator and had followed the institute’s established procedure.Students’ 18-Point CharterThe removal of Doolla came after sustained protests by students at the Powai campus. On September 20, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter presented by the protesting students.The demands cover both the Wakode case and wider concerns about student welfare and institutional processes.Students have sought an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death, with an interim report and a final report within specified timelines. They have also demanded an open house with senior institute officials and greater transparency in the handling of the case.Other demands include a formal code of conduct for professors, better grievance redressal mechanisms, greater student representation in committees and changes to the disciplinary process.Mental Health and Student Welfare DemandsA significant part of the charter focuses on mental-health support at IIT Bombay.Students have demanded improved in-person counselling services, including better counsellor availability and independent audits of the Student Wellness Centre. They have also sought mental-health sensitisation programmes for professors and staff members who regularly interact with students.The charter calls for a 24-hour psychiatrist-on-call facility at the IIT Bombay hospital and improvements in emergency and medical support.Students have also proposed a permanent task force involving students, faculty members, mental-health professionals and external experts to study student distress and recommend preventive measures.Investigation Into Sahil Wakode’s DeathThe circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remain under investigation. His family has made allegations including harassment and caste-based discrimination, while IIT Bombay has denied that Wakode had filed a complaint of caste discrimination with the institute’s relevant authorities.Mumbai Police has registered a case based on the family’s complaint, and the investigation has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.IIT Bombay has also apologised for an earlier statement concerning Wakode, after students objected to the public disclosure of details surrounding the examination incident.The institute has maintained that no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Wakode at the time and that he had been counselled following the examination incident.What Happens Next?The 18-point charter requires the institute to prepare an implementation plan for the demands. Students have also sought regular updates on the progress of the proposed reforms.The IIT Bombay Board of Governors is expected to review the developments, while the investigation into Wakode’s death continues.The removal of Doolla from his dean position is therefore one part of a wider set of changes sought by students. Further action will depend on the ongoing investigation and the implementation of the remaining demands in the charter.
