MUMBAI: Socio-political activist and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni, an IIT Bombay alumnus, has called for an impartial probe into the death of student Sahil Ravindra Wakode and opposed any action against Prof Suryanarayana Doolla unless his guilt is established through an investigation.In a post on X, Kulkarni also sought withdrawal of the case against Doolla under the SC/ST Act and called for a wider debate on the law.Kulkarni said the exact reasons behind Wakode’s death must be investigated independently and accountability established.He said no action should be taken against Doolla, whom he described as having “stellar academic credentials” and receiving several honours and awards, unless the probe establishes his guilt.He also called for the case against Doolla under the SC/ST Act to be withdrawn. Referring to suicides by students across higher educational institutions, Kulkarni said the reasons behind such deaths vary and argued that caste should not automatically become the basis for fixing guilt on people belonging to so-called “upper castes”.He described such an approach as “reverse casteism” and said a wider national debate was needed to reform the SC/ST Act, which he claimed had been widely misused. These were Kulkarni’s assertions in his post.Kulkarni also called for IITs and other higher educational institutions to do more to reduce academic and non-academic stress among students.He suggested additional coaching, peer-support initiatives and other measures, particularly for students from marginalised communities.He also raised concerns about stress among faculty members, pointing to vacancies in IITs. Citing media reports, he said 4,804 of the 12,498 sanctioned faculty posts across 23 IITs were vacant as of January 30, 2026, and noted that IIT Kharagpur had a faculty vacancy rate of 51.3%.Kulkarni questioned whether action against a faculty member for carrying out duties according to institutional rules could create fear among teachers. “If a conscientious faculty member is punished simply for carrying out one’s duty as per the Institute’s principles and guidelines, doesn’t it instil fear across the entire faculty community?” he wrote.He further said every effort should be made to counter casteism and communalism while preserving an intellectual environment that encourages critical thinking and respects diverse ideas.He said activism that, in his view, breeds bigotry and receives political patronage or protection for vote-bank considerations should be discouraged.Kulkarni’s post came amid continuing protests at IIT Bombay following Wakode’s death on September 18. Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.The institute later apologised for its earlier communication about the circumstances surrounding his death.Doolla, who was serving as dean of administrative affairs, was removed from the administrative post but continues as a professor and head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.The move followed student protests demanding accountability; the institute has said any further action would follow an investigation.Wakode’s family has alleged caste-based harassment and sought a thorough probe, while Doolla’s role remains under investigation.Kulkarni also referred in his post to the Election Commission’s decision concerning the Trinamool Congress, saying Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should join the ruling BJP, dissolve all Opposition parties and freeze their symbols. “One party will contest, and one party will win elections,” he said.(With ANI inputs)
