IIT Madras scholar’s death: IIT Bombay students seek resignation of his guide

The brother of the deceased, Bhavesh Jain, has accused his (Sachin’s) PhD guide, Ashish Kumar, for the suicide of his brother.  

Students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay are protesting against the IIT Madras administration and seeking justice for Sachin Kumar Jain, a PhD student who allegedly committed suicide on March 31 this year.  

The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), a student body within the IIT Bombay campus, tweeted, “Protest against the administration of @iitmadras demanding #justiceForSachinJain happening now. The administration has not implemented any structural changes against harassment of students by faculties. Students have demanded the resignation of Sachin's guide and Dean.” It further wrote, “Students protest in @iitmadras for #JusticeForSachinJain. The administration had to agree for an external member in the investigation committee. The students demanded the termination of his guide from the faculty position.”  

Sachin Kumar Jain, a resident of West Bengal, was a PhD research scholar at the Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Madras. He had put a WhatsApp status before taking the extreme step. The message read, "I am Sorry, not good enough." The brother of the deceased, Bhavesh Jain, has accused his (Sachin’s) PhD guide, Ashish Kumar, for the suicide of his brother.  

Sachin's brother has alleged that his guide knew that Sachin was having mental health issues. He further alleged that despite knowing about his mental health, the guide was harassing him with disciplinary action, blocking his access to the lab and burdening him with extra work, which worsened his condition. He (Sachin) informed his family that his degree will be delayed as the guide was making him do more work. 

Read more: 

• IIT Madras PhD student commits suicide 
• IIT Madras Students’ family seeks action against Guide for his suicide