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IIT Bombay Places Professor Doolla on Leave, Forms Panel

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

IIT Bombay Suspends Professor

IIT Bombay placed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla on leave after a FIR linked him to student Sahil Wakode’s suicide.
Mumbai Police moved the case to the Crime Branch for investigation under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Students assembled at IIT Bombay’s main gate demanding an independent inquiry, mental-health reforms, and student representation.
IIT Bombay created a 10-member panel led by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran to report within a week.

Summary

IIT Delhi Denies Discrimination

IIT Madras Faculty Association publicly backed Professor Doolla and condolenced the student’s family.
IIT Delhi professor Pravesh Biyani said he never witnessed teacher-led caste discrimination in two decades.
BJP leader Ananthan Ayyasamy, identifying as SC, criticised alleged misuse of the SC-ST Act.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu expressed deep respect for Ayyasamy’s stance on the controversy.
Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi warned that sacking professors is a band-a-id solution to deeper issues.

History

Historical Context

In 1992, the Indian government implemented the Mandal Commission's 27 % reservation policy, sparking nationwide campus protests and legal battles. The Supreme Court, led by Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, upheld the quota in the 1995 Indra Sawhney judgment, confirming 27 % seats for Other Backward Classes. Today's controversy at IIT Bombay, involving Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, student Sahil Wakode, and the SC/ST Act, mirrors those earlier caste-based tensions on Indian campuses. The precedent shows that legal enforcement of reservation can trigger institutional inquiries, prompting ministries and universities to refine grievance mechanisms and mental-health policies.

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IIT Bombay Suspends Professor

IIT Bombay placed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla on leave after a FIR linked him to student Sahil Wakode’s suicide.
Mumbai Police moved the case to the Crime Branch for investigation under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Students assembled at IIT Bombay’s main gate demanding an independent inquiry, mental-health reforms, and student representation.
IIT Bombay created a 10-member panel led by Professor Ramesh Venkateswaran to report within a week.

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