IIT BOMBAY STUDENTS QUESTION HOW CASTE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS ARE HANDLED
September 30, 2026
Students and alumni of IIT Bombay have raised concerns about the functioning of the institute’s SC/ST Students and Staff Cell, alleging that the mechanism lacks a clearly implemented procedure for investigating and resolving complaints of caste-based discrimination.
The concerns have emerged following the death of student Sahil Wakode, whose parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment. The allegations are under investigation, while IIT Bombay has denied that caste discrimination was involved and said Wakode had not approached the SC/ST cell with such a complaint.
The institute’s SC/ST cell is officially responsible for receiving complaints related to caste-based discrimination and harassment. Its stated functions also include sensitisation of students and staff and promoting awareness of anti-discrimination laws and policies.
Students and alumni, however, have questioned whether the cell provides an adequate institutional mechanism for pursuing complaints. They have pointed to the absence, according to them, of a clearly operationalised process comparable to procedures followed by other campus grievance bodies.
An alumnus who had worked with the cell said efforts had been made in 2022 to develop a formal protocol for handling caste-discrimination complaints and introduce caste-sensitisation programmes for students and faculty. According to him, those initiatives were not subsequently implemented.
The controversy has also highlighted concerns among some students about whether complainants can approach an internal body with confidence when allegations involve faculty members or other institutional authorities. Some students have said they have relied on informal peer groups for assistance in raising grievances.
IIT Bombay has since faced broader demands for reforms to its student-support and grievance-redressal mechanisms. The institute has also indicated plans to strengthen systems through which students can raise concerns, including mechanisms designed to facilitate complaints and support.
The debate has placed renewed focus on the need for clearly defined procedures, accessible complaint channels and institutional safeguards for students reporting caste-based discrimination on uni
