IIT-B student suicide: Protest not defending academic misconduct but seeks reforms, say students
Mumbai: Rejecting suggestions that protesting students were defending academic misconduct , IIT-B student representatives said the agitation was aimed at raising larger concerns about institutional systems, accountability and student welfare . They made it clear that their demand for temporarily relieving Prof Suryanarayana Doolla as dean of administrative affairs should not be interpreted as a presumption of guilt.
In a statement issued late on Monday, the students said Sahil Wakhode had faced circumstances that had compelled them to reflect more deeply on processes within the institute. They said his death should not become a platform for external political interests, organisations or narratives to shape concerns.
The students maintained that seeking Doolla’s temporary removal from an administrative position was intended to ensure that the investigation remained completely independent and was not influenced in any manner. Any finding of responsibility, they said, must emerge from the evidence and the investigative process. “We stand with Prof Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation must be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially,” the statement said.
The students said over the past few days, they had collectively drawn up a comprehensive set of demands, which had been placed before the IIT-B director, who had acknowledged and signed them and agreed to work towards their implementation within specified timelines.
According to the statement, students were given an opportunity to directly raise questions and concerns at an open house meeting, which the director addressed in detail. The representatives said they appreciated the manner in which the administration had engaged with students and hoped the process would continue while IIT-B worked towards identifying and addressing the issues that had surfaced.
A section of protesting students, however, held the director responsible for structural shortcomings at the institute and alleged that misinformation about Wakode was circulated before an investigation was conducted. They sought a statement from the director clarifying that their protest was not in support of cheating but against an arbitrary and unjustified exercise of power. They said the director had on Sept 20 agreed to the demand that Doolla be relieved of all responsibilities for the duration of the probe.
(With inputs from Yogita Rao)
In a statement issued late on Monday, the students said Sahil Wakhode had faced circumstances that had compelled them to reflect more deeply on processes within the institute. They said his death should not become a platform for external political interests, organisations or narratives to shape concerns.
The students maintained that seeking Doolla’s temporary removal from an administrative position was intended to ensure that the investigation remained completely independent and was not influenced in any manner. Any finding of responsibility, they said, must emerge from the evidence and the investigative process. “We stand with Prof Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation must be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially,” the statement said.
The students said over the past few days, they had collectively drawn up a comprehensive set of demands, which had been placed before the IIT-B director, who had acknowledged and signed them and agreed to work towards their implementation within specified timelines.
According to the statement, students were given an opportunity to directly raise questions and concerns at an open house meeting, which the director addressed in detail. The representatives said they appreciated the manner in which the administration had engaged with students and hoped the process would continue while IIT-B worked towards identifying and addressing the issues that had surfaced.
A section of protesting students, however, held the director responsible for structural shortcomings at the institute and alleged that misinformation about Wakode was circulated before an investigation was conducted. They sought a statement from the director clarifying that their protest was not in support of cheating but against an arbitrary and unjustified exercise of power. They said the director had on Sept 20 agreed to the demand that Doolla be relieved of all responsibilities for the duration of the probe.
(With inputs from Yogita Rao)
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