IIT-Bombay New Guidelines: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has stated that enquiring about the caste, category, or ranking of fellow students is considered discriminatory and should not be done. These new rules were introduced following the death of a second-year student at the institute. In a mail addressed to all students on Tuesday night, the institute has stated that these questions even when asked in a curious way could lead to discrimination against other students.
The email came from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, which said IIT-B aims to build an inclusive campus regardless of caste, religion or socio-economic status. The institute also reiterated its commitment to implementing the Constitution’s reservation policy “in letter and spirit” and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. It warned that violations could attract severe punishment.
What the New Guidelines Say?
The guidelines describe it as inappropriate to ask fellow students about their birth or admission category, since this can lead to conscious or subconscious bias. The institute also cautioned against asking about JEE (Advanced) All Indiaranks, GATE scores or any other information that may reveal a student’s caste or related background. “While the person asking the question may feel it is innocent... asking the question can often have an adverse impact on the other student,” the email stated.
Building Friendships on Shared Interests
Students, faculty members and staff have been urged to avoid conversations that could reveal a student’s caste or related background. Rather, the institute stressed relationships based on shared interests, including academic departments, games, music, movies, and hobbies, as well as the schools, colleges, villages, and towns where the students originate from.
Curbs on Abusive and Hateful Messages
The code of conduct also bans the exchange or forwarding of messages which are abusive, hate-filled, caste-based, sexist, as well as those that have discriminatory content with respect to the person's religious beliefs or sexual preferences.
Protesting Students Say Email Is ‘Templated’:
Tuesday’s email is part of a series of measures to strengthen student welfare, improve institutional processes and increase student participation in decision-making after the student’s death on September 18. The institute has faced questions about student well-being and the mechanisms available to address grievances.
Students who have been protesting at the main gate, Justice Corner, for 26 days said a similar email was sent in 2023 after the death of an 18-year-old Dalit student, a case that sparked nationwide debate over systemic caste discrimination at engineering institutions. They said the institute must stop sending templated emails and start a dialogue with the protesters.