4 hrs ago
IIT-Bombay Faculty March Supports Dean Amid Student Suicide Probe
Faculty members at IIT-Bombay marched to support Suryanarayana Doolla.
Doolla had been removed from his dean position after protests by students.
The protests followed the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode.
Wakode was found hanging in his hotel room on the campus.
Officials said he had allegedly been caught using a mobile phone during an exam earlier that day.
Police have booked Doolla under a law protecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He also faces an allegation related to encouraging suicide.
Faculty members said Doolla was following the institute’s approved examination rules.
Wakode’s family alleged that he faced institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination.
IIT-Bombay faculty members marched on campus in support of Dean Suryanarayana Doolla.
Doolla was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs after student protests over Sahil Wakode’s death.
Police booked Doolla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for alleged abetment to suicide.
The Faculty Forum said Doolla followed Senate-approved procedure when reporting Wakode for allegedly using a phone during an examination.
Wakode’s family alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination before his death.
- Who
- IIT-Bombay faculty members, Dean Suryanarayana Doolla, student Sahil Wakode, his family, and protesting students.
- What
- Faculty held a campus march supporting Doolla after Wakode’s death and the subsequent police case against the dean.
- Where
- The march took place at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus in Powai, Mumbai; Wakode was found in his campus hotel room.
- When
- The faculty march took place on Monday; Wakode was found dead on the preceding Friday, according to the article.
- Why
- Faculty said Doolla followed Senate-approved examination procedure, while Wakode’s family alleged institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination.
Faculty Forum’s Position
Family and Student Protesters’ Allegations
Handling of examination incident
Faculty Forum’s Position
The Faculty Forum said Doolla followed Senate-approved examination procedure when he reported Wakode for alleged phone use during the examination.
Family and Student Protesters’ Allegations
Wakode’s family alleged that he experienced institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination before his death.
Accountability after the death
Faculty Forum’s Position
Faculty members marched in support of Doolla after he was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs.
Family and Student Protesters’ Allegations
Students protested following Wakode’s death, while police booked Doolla under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and for alleged abetment to suicide.
Key facts
- Institution
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Dean named
- Suryanarayana Doolla
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student
- Student’s department
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering
- Police charges
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and alleged abetment to suicide
- Reported examination incident
- Wakode was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination
- Location
- IIT-Bombay campus in Powai, Mumbai
Sources
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