IIT Bombay students clarify protest was ‘not to justify cheating’, demand institutional reforms

Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay, student representatives have said their protest following the death of fellow student Sahil was aimed at raising concerns over systemic issues and seeking institutional reforms, rather than justifying academic misconduct.

In a statement issued on September 21, the student representatives said they do not condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct. However, they said Sahil’s death was a “deeply tragic event” that prompted students to reflect on the systems and processes within the institute.

“The protest initiated by students was not intended to justify academic misconduct,” the representatives said. They added that it was a collective effort to raise concerns about systemic issues and seek institutional reforms so that no student faces similar circumstances.

The statement highlights that students formulated a set of demands over the past few days and formally submitted the same to IIT Bombay Director. They also claim that the Director acknowledged and signed the demands and agreed to work towards implementing them within the specified timelines.

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Open house with Director

The representatives also said an open house was held with the Director and other members of the institute administration, allowing students to directly raise their concerns and questions. They appreciated the Director’s engagement with students and his approach towards identifying and addressing institutional issues.

On Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the student representatives clarified that their position was not based on presuming his guilt or prejudging the ongoing investigation. “We stand with Professor Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation must be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially,” they said.

The students said their demand was for Doolla to be relieved of his administrative duties as Dean of Administrative Affairs while the investigation was underway. They described this as a precautionary measure intended to ensure that the investigation remained independent and could not be influenced.

“The findings and appropriate action should follow from the established investigative process,” the representatives said.

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Students oppose external influence

The representatives further said concerns arising from Sahil’s death should remain student-led and be addressed within IIT Bombay. They said the incident should not become a platform for external political interests, organisations or narratives to shape the concerns of the institute’s student community.

“Our demands have emerged from the experiences and concerns of students on campus,” they said, adding that institutional reform should remain rooted in the student community and the institute.

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