Following three days of intense protests sparked by the tragic death of a second-year BTech student, IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare signed a comprehensive 18-point student charter during a late-night meeting with demonstrators near the campus main gate.
The charter addresses major systemic concerns, ranging from mental health infrastructure and faculty accountability to protections for protesting students.
Key Demands in the 18-Point Charter
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Disciplinary Actions & Accountability: Students demanded the immediate suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and called for the resignations of top officials—including the Director, Dean AP, and Dean SA—if specified demands are not implemented within one month, alongside weekly progress updates.
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Public Apology & Transparency: The charter called for an immediate public apology from the institute regarding selective and defamatory details initially shared about the student on social media, alongside an Open House session with key administrators.
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Independent Investigations: Students requested an independent committee to investigate both the student’s death and the hospital’s response, with an interim report targeted for September 30 and public findings by October 15, plus financial support for affected families.
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Mental Health Infrastructure & Support: Major reforms focus on expanding resources, including a target of one counselor for every 250 students, a counselor in every hostel, a 24/7 on-call psychiatrist, qualified night-shift emergency doctors, and regular wellness audits.
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Faculty Sensitization & Code of Conduct: The charter mandates bi-monthly mental health sensitization workshops for staff, training during onboarding, and the creation of a committee to establish clear complaint mechanisms and rules governing conduct regarding professors.
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Protection for Protesters: A firm written assurance was secured ensuring that no disciplinary, financial, legal, or hostel-related actions will be taken against students participating in the peaceful demonstrations.
