Story perspectives

IIT Bombay Pauses One-Semester Malpractice Suspension Rule

By Drooid · Oct 7, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

IIT Bombay Pauses Suspension

IIT Bombay will pause the one-semester suspension rule for exam malpractice.
An emergency Senate meeting will debate the pause on Wednesday.
A committee formed after Sahil Wakode’s Sept 18 suicide reviewed the misconduct process.
Wakode’s death, alleged after using a phone and ChatGPT, triggered protests.
Mid-semester exams were postponed to Oct 10-11.

Summary

Invigilator Doolla Intervenes

Invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla intervened after spotting Wakode’s unauthorized smartphone, following institute protocol.
CCTV footage shows Wakode handing his phone to Doolla and then exiting the examination hall.
Protesters and Wakode’s family allege caste-based discrimination and institutional harassment contributed to his suicide.
Initial investigation found no concrete evidence linking Doolla to abetment of suicide.
Authorities continue examining all evidence with no final conclusions reached on the allegations.

History

Historical Context

Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar born 30 January 1989, died by suicide on 17 January 2016 after the University of Hyderabad suspended him and four peers, igniting nationwide protests against caste discrimination in Indian universities. The outcry prompted Supreme Court petitions for anti-bias policies, a legacy echoed in IIT Bombay’s 2023 pause on its one-semester suspension rule.

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IIT Bombay Pauses Suspension

IIT Bombay will pause the one-semester suspension rule for exam malpractice.
An emergency Senate meeting will debate the pause on Wednesday.
A committee formed after Sahil Wakode’s Sept 18 suicide reviewed the misconduct process.
Wakode’s death, alleged after using a phone and ChatGPT, triggered protests.
Mid-semester exams were postponed to Oct 10-11.

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