Faculty bodies at IIT Bombay, Delhi and Madras call for due process, citing academic integrity and concerns over premature allegations
Faculty members from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Bombay, Delhi and Madras have expressed support for Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs at IIT Bombay following the death by suicide of a second-year BTech student.
The student was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination on September 18, with Doolla serving as the invigilator. The incident sparked campus protests and allegations from the student’s family of institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination.
IIT Bombay faculty march in support
Faculty members at the Powai campus held a march backing Doolla. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum said he had followed Senate-approved examination procedures while reporting the alleged malpractice.
IIT Delhi cites academic integrity
The IIT Delhi Faculty Forum expressed solidarity with Doolla and condemned what it described as the tarnishing of his reputation. It said the circumstances had raised concerns among faculty about conducting examinations and maintaining academic integrity.
The forum appealed to students, families and the public to support faculty members in carrying out their responsibilities fairly.
IIT Madras calls for fair investigation
The IIT Madras faculty body urged a fair investigation into the student’s death, cautioning against media trials, speculation and publicly assigning responsibility before the inquiry is completed.
It said premature conclusions could cause lasting harm to those concerned and stressed that faculty members should be able to uphold examination integrity in good faith.
Charges and investigation
Doolla has reportedly been charged with abetment to suicide and alleged caste-based discrimination following the student’s death. The faculty statements have called for due process, while the allegations and circumstances surrounding the death remain central to the ongoing controversy.
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