HighLights
  1. IIT Bombay, Madras, and Delhi faculties support Prof. Doolla.
  2. Professor suspended after student Sahil Wakode's suicide
  3. Faculties call for a fair probe to uphold academic integrity.

The faculties of IIT Bombay and IIT Madras, Delhi have expressed support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was suspended during the investigation into the death of student Sahil Wakode. Wakode died by suicide on September 18 at IIT Bombay, sparking widespread campus protests.

What did IIT Madras say?

The Faculty Association at IIT Madras stood with Prof. Doolla while extending support to Wakode’s family, friends and classmates. Issuing a statement, the faculty association said, "We also stand with his friends, classmates and the wider student community of IIT Bombay, who are mourning the loss of one of their own. The death of any student is a loss to the entire academic community, and it is a reminder that our institutions must keep making the wellbeing of every student a central priority.”

ALSO READ: IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Family Demands CBI Probe, Seeks CCTV, Phone And Laptop Details

The faculty association said that they believe “Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, as course instructor and invigilator, acted in accordance with the Senate-approved academic procedures of the institute.” Prof. Ethayaraja Mani, president of the IIT Madras Faculty Association, issued the statements.

The faculty put forward three requests in its statements. Firstly, any investigation into the incident should be conducted by the appropriate institutional and legal authorities in a fair, transparent and time-bound manner, with full respect for the dignity of the student and his family.

Secondly, no individual shall be held responsible, publicly or in the media, before completion of such course. Premature conclusions, media trials and speculation, including on social media, cause lasting harm to all concerned and do not serve the cause of justice or the memory of the student.
Lastly, the inquiry also looks into whether institutional procedures for handling academic malpractice give students enough support, counselling and safeguards at moments of acute stress so that such situations are handled with both integrity and compassion.

ALSO READ: IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Faculty Forum Backs Professor Doolla, Holds Campus March


What did IIT Bombay say?

The faculty members at IIT Bombay, on Monday, held a protest in support of Professor Doolla within the campus. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum separately defended him and sought to clarify reports concerning his institutional position.

On Tuesday, IIT Bombay student representatives issued an official statement, saying, We do not stand for or condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct. At the same time, the loss of our fellow student, Sahil, is a deeply tragic event that has compelled us to reflect on the systems and processes within our Institute. The protest initiated by students was not intended to justify academic misconduct. It was a collective effort to raise concerns about systemic issues that have existed for some time and to seek meaningful and strong institutional reforms so that no student has to face circumstances of this nature again.”

‘Was Performing His Duties’: IIT Delhi Provides Support To Professor

Faculty members at IIT Delhi on Monday extended their support to Prof. Doolla, saying “he was simply discharging his duties as per the institute’s guidelines. “It was noted that various allegations against him have been levelled in public without presenting any credible evidence. The forum expresses solidarity with Prof Doolla, his students, and the family, and condemns the tarnishing of his reputation,” the IIT-Delhi Faculty Forum said in a statement.

“There is an apprehension among faculty members regarding the conduct of evaluations and maintaining academic integrity due to the circumstances that prevailed at IIT-Bombay. IIT-Delhi Faculty Forum appeals to the student community, their families, and the entire nation to extend their support so that the faculty can discharge its duties in maintaining the integrity and fairness of the entire IIT system,” it said.

Sahil Wakode Death

The student was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at Hostel Number 4 on the IIT Bombay campus in Mumbai's Powai area on Friday evening.

Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. According to IIT Bombay officials, he allegedly used ChatGPT during the exam. IIT Bombay, in a statement, said the student had allegedly uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

 


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