IIT faculty forums across Delhi, Madras back Professor Doolla after removal as dean

Faculty forums at IIT Bombay, Delhi and Madras have come out in support of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, hours after he was removed as Dean (Administrative Affairs) at IIT Bombay amid a row over a student's death.

At IIT Bombay, professors held a protest march on campus on Monday, carrying placards and posters in a show of solidarity with their colleague. In a statement, the institute's faculty forum said it was distressed by what it described as the vilification of Professor Doolla's reputation through false and misleading media reports, and said it stood firmly with him. The forum also noted that he continues to be a faculty member in good standing. Separately, around 50 to 60 alumni of the institute have extended their support to him.

The forum reiterated that it was pained by the death of a student in an incident on September 18.

Professor Doolla was the invigilator in the examination hall where students, including Sahil Wakode, were taking a test. He allegedly caught Sahil with a mobile phone and using ChatGPT inside the hall. The student died by suicide later that day. The incident triggered protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with claims of administrative heavy-handedness and caste-based discrimination.

The IIT Delhi faculty forum said Professor Doolla was simply discharging his duties during an examination as per the institute's guidelines. It flagged an apprehension among faculty members about the conduct of evaluations and the maintenance of academic integrity given the circumstances at IIT Bombay, and appealed to students, their families and others to extend support so that faculty can carry out their duties in preserving the fairness of the IIT system.

The Delhi forum condemned what it called mob-driven behaviour that it alleged has affected decision-making at the IITs in recent events, and noted that allegations had been levelled against Professor Doolla without credible evidence. It called on IIT Bombay to provide all necessary institutional and personal support to him and his family, and committed its own backing.

The IIT Madras faculty forum said the death of any student is a loss to the entire academic community, and that at such a time the circumstances must be examined fairly and through due process. It noted the IIT Bombay forum's statement that Professor Doolla, as course instructor and invigilator, acted in accordance with Senate-approved academic procedures, and said faculty across the IIT system must be able to uphold examination integrity in good faith without fear of personal vilification.

The Madras forum also asked that the inquiry into the incident examine whether institutional procedures for handling academic malpractice offer students adequate support, counselling and safeguards at moments of acute stress, so that such situations are handled with both integrity and compassion. It expressed solidarity with Professor Doolla as well as with the students and families of the institutions.