28 September,2026 10:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The alumni, in their letter, have also raised concerns over what they described as increased security measures on campus. File Pic/PTI
A group of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) alumni has written to the director, calling for wide-ranging reforms in the academic environment, mental health support systems and disciplinary practices following student's death cases.
The alumni have also sought an independent and impartial inquiry into allegations of caste-based harassment involving a student who died by suicide earlier this month.
In a letter, a copy of which is with mid-day, the group alumni said the death of a second-year BTech student on September 18, 2026, should not be viewed in isolation.
They have referred to at least four instances related student's deaths over the past year and expressed concern about what they described as growing alienation among students.
The alumni have demanded an impartial inquiry into allegations of caste-based harassment raised by the deceased student's parents.
They also called for a fair investigation into allegations concerning a faculty member and welcomed the institute's decision to suspend the official from the position of Dean of Academic Affairs pending the inquiry.
The alumni have called for a comprehensive assessment of the mental health and well-being of IIT Bombay's student community, including an examination of the role of supervisors and faculty members.
They have urged the institute to strengthen its Medical Unit by appointing adequate numbers of counsellors and therapists. The group has also suggested having counsellors from LGBTQ+ and SC/ST/OBC communities to make support systems more accessible to students from marginalised backgrounds.
The letter, singed by of 79 alumni, further calls for compulsory and regular mental health sensitisation programmes for faculty members.
According to the alumni, academic pressure, along with caste, class and gender-based inequalities, can contribute to students feeling excluded from campus life.
They have sought a review of the teacher-student ratio, cited in their letter as 1:18, and called for a broader examination of academic and teaching practices at the institute.
The group has also called for a long-term study of the teaching and learning environment to ensure that academic practices respond to students' changing needs.
The alumni, in their letter, have also raised concerns over what they described as increased security measures on campus.
The letter refers to the alleged frisking of students by private security personnel before examinations and the presence of police and other security personnel on campus. The signatories said disciplinary issues should be addressed without unnecessarily stigmatising students or affecting their academic futures.
They have called for disciplinary policies involving severe penalties to be discussed and formulated democratically, with meaningful student representation.
The alumni have sought institutional support for the deceased student's family throughout the inquiry and any subsequent legal proceedings.
They said the institute has a responsibility to ensure that the family receives the necessary assistance while the allegations are examined.
The letter also refers to the wider issue of student suicides across the Indian Institutes of Technology. Citing published media reports, the alumni said there were 45 reported suicides across 23 IITs in the five years up to December 2025.
They also referred to another report documenting 171 deaths at IITs over two decades. The alumni argued that such figures warrant closer examination of the academic and social pressures faced by students.
The allegations mentioned in the letter have not been independently established.
The alumni have urged IIT Bombay to address concerns related to caste, class and gender-based exclusion and other forms of discrimination.
They have also asked the administration not to criminalise students participating in protests and instead address grievances through peaceful and transparent dialogue.
The letter further raises questions about videos purportedly showing CCTV footage from an examination hall. The alumni have asked the institute to clarify the authenticity of the footage and take appropriate action if investigative material was leaked.
The letter concludes by expressing condolences to the families and friends of students who have died by suicide and calling for concrete measures to create an academic environment that supports students' intellectual and personal growth.
Mid-day attempted to reach out to IIT Bombay for a response but the institute did not respond till the time of publishing this story.
