Why is IIT Bombay on boil? A suicide, protests, a professor in focus, divided faculty
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The situation at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) remained tense on Tuesday as students continued their protest following the death by suicide of a second-year undergraduate student on the campus on September 18. What began with questions over an incident during a mid-semester examination has now turned into a larger protest over the institute's examination procedures, disciplinary action, student welfare and the handling of the case.
Adding to this, Mumbai: Police personnel stand guard outside IIT Bombay after the recent death by suicide of a second year B Tech student Sahil Wakode, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (PTI) Students have continued to raise questions over what happened during and after the examination and have demanded an independent third-party inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the student's death. They have also questioned the process followed after the student was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during the examination.
Meanwhile, The students have made it clear that their protest is not in support of cheating or academic malpractice. Their concern, they shared, is about the process followed by the institute after the examination incident and the circumstances that followed.
Notably, The protest has been continuing for several days on the IIT Bombay campus. Students have gathered at the main gate and have also held candlelight protests. After an open house with the institute administration on Monday, a group of around 40 students continued to sit at the main gate. They shared they would continue their protest until action is taken against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
As per the latest buzz, Doolla was the professor associated with the examination incident and was later removed from his position as Dean (Student Affairs) . However, the students shared their demand was not limited to removal from an administrative post. They wanted him suspended from his teaching duties while the inquiry into the case is conducted.
In further updates, The students are also demanding that the institute make public reports related to previous student suicide cases on the campus. They have raised concerns about the wider student support system and want changes in the way such cases and disciplinary matters are handled.
On top of that, The administration held an open house with students after the protests continued. During the meeting, several concerns raised by students were discussed. The students have also submitted a list of demands, including an independent investigation into the incident and changes in the process followed in cases of alleged examination malpractice.
The administration has also apologised for aspects of its earlier communication regarding the incident. The students had questioned the description of the examination incident and the manner in which the details were communicated before the circumstances had been fully established.
Source: Hindustan Times