IIT Bombay student death: Faculty Forum backs professor, says phone use was 'academic malpractice'
MUMBAI: Amid the controversy surrounding the death of an IIT Bombay second-year student in an alleged suicide, the institute’s Faculty Forum has expressed solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, saying he was acting in accordance with institutional rules after finding the student in “unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone” during an examination.
The Faculty Forum, while expressing condolences to the student’s family, said Doolla was “discharging his duties in line with the institute’s Senate-approved academic policies currently in force”.
According to the forum, Doolla, who was the course instructor and was invigilating the mid-semester examination from 11am to 1pm on September 18, noticed the student using a smartphone without authorisation. The forum described the incident as “academic malpractice”.
It said Doolla subsequently reported the matter to the institute authorities as required under the approved procedure. The forum said it was “absolutely distressed” over what it called the tarnishing of the professor’s reputation, adding that he was merely performing his academic duties and following institutional procedures.
IIT Bombay had earlier said the student, who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found using a mobile phone inside the examination hall. The institute said he had uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers.
The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student. Instead, the course instructor and the head of the department counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
The student later returned to his hostel room and was found dead there in the evening. IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the death and that support was being extended to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. It added that the circumstances surrounding the death were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.
Following the incident, students staged a late-night protest, demanding accountability and greater transparency from the institute administration.
The student’s parents have also filed a case under the SC/ST Act, alleging that discrimination contributed to his death. The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as fact.
The Faculty Forum, while expressing condolences to the student’s family, said Doolla was “discharging his duties in line with the institute’s Senate-approved academic policies currently in force”.
According to the forum, Doolla, who was the course instructor and was invigilating the mid-semester examination from 11am to 1pm on September 18, noticed the student using a smartphone without authorisation. The forum described the incident as “academic malpractice”.
It said Doolla subsequently reported the matter to the institute authorities as required under the approved procedure. The forum said it was “absolutely distressed” over what it called the tarnishing of the professor’s reputation, adding that he was merely performing his academic duties and following institutional procedures.
IIT Bombay had earlier said the student, who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found using a mobile phone inside the examination hall. The institute said he had uploaded the question paper on ChatGPT to seek answers.
The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student. Instead, the course instructor and the head of the department counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.
The student later returned to his hostel room and was found dead there in the evening. IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the death and that support was being extended to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. It added that the circumstances surrounding the death were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.
Following the incident, students staged a late-night protest, demanding accountability and greater transparency from the institute administration.
The student’s parents have also filed a case under the SC/ST Act, alleging that discrimination contributed to his death. The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as fact.
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