IIT Bombay Students Demand Welfare Reforms and Stronger Mental Health Support Following Suicide

Students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay are calling for reforms in the institute’s student welfare system, along with stronger mental health support, following the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode. The incident has also triggered a debate among students over the action taken against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. While some students have criticised the professor’s handling of the situation, others have opposed singling him out in connection with Wakode’s death.

Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging in his hostel room at IIT Bombay’s Powai campus on the evening of September 18. The incident occurred hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. His death subsequently led to protests on the campus. Mumbai Police have registered a case against Professor Doolla under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, following a complaint filed by Wakode’s family.

Several students have said the incident highlights the need to strengthen the institute’s welfare and mental health mechanisms. One student said there was broad agreement among students that the wellness cell, psychiatric support and other welfare facilities needed improvement, while students should also have a greater say in decisions affecting them. At the same time, some students rejected allegations of caste-based discrimination at the institute and said they disagreed with the focus on Professor Doolla. One student described his removal as Dean of Administrative Affairs as inappropriate, arguing that he had been carrying out his responsibilities.

Another student similarly said claims of caste discrimination at IIT Bombay did not reflect the situation on campus. Students have also discussed the pressure associated with academic life at the institute. One student suggested that academic stress could have played a role in Wakode’s death, while acknowledging that demanding coursework is a recognised part of engineering education. Other students raised concerns about Doolla’s previous tenure as Dean of Students Affairs. They alleged that students had previously faced suspension or hostel-related action for what they considered relatively minor issues. According to these students, such measures had contributed to a sense of apprehension among some students.

Amid the protests, IIT Bombay removed Doolla from the position of Dean of Administrative Affairs on Monday, although he continues to serve as a faculty member. The institute also withdrew an earlier communication about the circumstances preceding Wakode’s death and issued an apology, saying it was inappropriate to present details as established before the completion of the investigation. The institute specifically retracted its earlier statement that Wakode had been caught cheating and had not faced disciplinary action, saying the circumstances were still subject to investigation.

Student groups, however, have called for Doolla to be removed from his faculty position as well. On Monday evening, faculty members organised a march on campus in support of the professor. The Faculty Forum said Doolla had acted in accordance with Senate-approved examination procedures when he reported the alleged phone use during the September 18 examination. Wakode’s father, Ravindra Wakode, has made allegations of caste-based discrimination and claimed that his son was mocked and subjected to harassment. He has called for an investigation into the role of the IIT Bombay administration in his son’s death.

Security arrangements around the campus have been strengthened amid the continuing protests and tensions surrounding the case. The incident has placed renewed attention on student welfare, academic pressure, mental health services and institutional grievance mechanisms at higher educational institutions. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death remains ongoing.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.