After Sahil's death, IIT Bombay students give administration written reform demands

Student representatives at IIT Bombay have made their position clear following the death of a student named Sahil. The students said they do not support any form of cheating or academic indiscipline, but that the tragic incident has made it necessary to seriously rethink the institute's systems and procedures.

The statement clarified that the movement students launched was not meant to support academic indiscipline. Its aim was to draw attention to problems that have persisted at the institute for a long time, and to demand concrete reforms so that no other student has to face such a situation in future.

Over the past few days, students gathered to prepare their demands, which were formally placed before the Director of IIT Bombay. According to the students, the Director accepted the demands, signed them, and agreed to implement them within a set time frame.

The students said an open house was also held with the Director and other institute officials, where they got a chance to directly raise their problems, concerns and questions. The statement said the Director answered the students' questions in detail. The student representatives also praised the administration for engaging with students throughout the process and trying to systematically resolve the institutional problems that came to light.

The students also addressed the matter concerning Professor Suryanarayan Doola. The statement said it is not the students' intention to declare him guilty or draw any conclusions before the inquiry is complete. The students said Professor Doola remains a valid faculty member as far as they are concerned, but that the inquiry related to him must be completed in a fair and independent manner. The students have demanded that he be kept away from the administrative responsibilities of the Dean of Administrative Affairs during the inquiry. They also said the final outcome of the inquiry and any further action must follow the set inquiry process.

The students also opposed outside political interference. They said questions related to Sahil's death should be resolved under student leadership and within the institute, and that the incident should not be used for any outside political gain, organisation or ready-made narrative. According to the students, their demands stem from the experiences and concerns of students on campus, so the reform process should remain focused between the student community and the institute administration.

In the statement, the students said they stand united in their demand for accountability, transparency and effective institutional reform. They said they will keep taking their voice to the administration and will keep working constructively with the institute to build a safe, accountable and cooperative campus. The statement ended with the students writing, "IIT Bombay students are strong. IIT Bombay students are united," and appealed that issues concerning students remain focused on students.