Assam: IIT-Guwahati dean resigns amid massive protest

 Guwahati: Amid massive protest by students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-Guwahati) over the death of a fellow student, the academic dean of the premier institute, Professor Kanduru V. Krishna, resigned from his post.

However, an press statement from the IIT-Guwahati media cell on Wednesday (September 11, 2024) noon stated that the dean has sent his resignation and the institute authorities have received it.

The statement added that the institute authorities are discussing the matter internally and a decision on it will be taken soon.

The protest erupted on Monday (September 9, 2024), with students accusing the institute of prioritising grades over student well-being.

Bimalesh Kumar, a third-year BTech student of Computer Science and Engineering, was found dead in his room at Brahmaputra Hostel earlier in the day.

Students alleged that the administration has been insensitive to their concerns and those of their parents. They called for the resignation of Prof Krishna.

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Students claim that the deceased was among several others who had failed a course last winter due to their inability to meet the attendance requirement, which restricted them from internships. This, they say, contributed to his distress.

They claimed that the authorities have refused to verify medical certificates issued by the IIT-Guwahati Hospital, leading to the failure of numerous students.

They further alleged that the authorities have been inflexible in granting leave of absence,
even when students presented valid medical certificates. Students claimed that
their requests for leave were either ignored or met with absurd rejections.

The students also accused the institute of failing to recognise its placement cell when a
student’s internship was delayed by a week, forcing them to pay a penalty.

Students alleged that despite repeated pleas, Prof Krishna refused to grant them permission for
a summer course, causing significant inconvenience and hardship during their
internship season.