17 IIM-Ahmedabad staff members write to Board, reiterate demand for panel

On October 12, the institute’s Students’ Affair Council (SAC) had also written a letter to the Director reiterating the demand for constitution of a high-powered committee to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

“This is not merely a procedural requirement but a moral obligation to honor Akshith’s memory, safeguard the well-being of our students, and uphold the values of integrity and excellence that define IIMA”, the letter mailed to the BoG Chairman said.

The mail, seen by The Indian Express, sent to the BoG chairman Pankaj Patel on October 17 has been signed by 17 senior faculty members of IIMA and is garnering more support from other faculty members on the Faculty Committee Members (FCM) group.
The letter urged the Chairman to constitute an external committee comprising “individuals with unquestionable integrity and relevant expertise to undertake an impartial investigation/inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Akshith’s death”.

Referring to the earlier faculty meeting, demanding an external panel to probe the incident, the recent mail said, “the meeting held on September 29, 2024, provided an open platform for both students and faculty to express their concerns”. “The students, in particular, voiced their deep anguish, frustration, and disappointment with how the IIMA administration handled the conduct of TRBS. The overwhelming sentiment was that their concerns were not given the attention and care they deserved,” said the letter.

Akshith Bhukya was also the coordinator of The Red Bricks Summit (TRBS) and the IIMA had cancelled the annual management event following his death.

Terming it to be “the most critical action”, that still “remains unaddressed”, the faculty members stated that “we strongly believe that only an independent inquiry conducted by individuals of impeccable integrity and relevant expertise can provide a comprehensive, impartial understanding of the circumstances leading to this tragic event”.

“Without such an inquiry, the investigation risks being incomplete, and the underlying issues that may have contributed to Akshith’s death could remain unexamined,” said the letter.

The faculty members stressed that “only a comprehensive, independent inquiry can uncover these deeper, more complex issues”. “While we acknowledge the ongoing police investigation, it is important to recognize its inherent limitations. A police investigation is confined to determining whether criminal negligence occurred, but it cannot adequately address the broader institutional and systemic failures that may have contributed to the environment of overwhelming pressure in which Akshith found himself”, the letter stated.

“What the IIMA community urgently needs are answers that transcend the purview of criminal law: Were there institutional lapses, deviations from established norms, or failures in providing adequate support systems that exacerbated the pressures on Akshith?” the letter said.

Meanwhile, one of the faculty members told The Indian Express on condition of anonymity: “There are growing concerns, both within the IIMA community and in the public domain, which suggest that Akshith may have been subjected to immense pressure which might have intensified and worsened by inconsistent administrative decisions and unclear communication from the administration.”

The letter said it is “necessary to holistically examine whether administrative oversights, insufficient mental health resources, or systemic mismanagement played a role in this tragedy. Such an inquiry would not only help us learn from this devastating loss but also ensure that corrective measures are taken to prevent such an occurrence in the future.”

“It is not just about healing the wounds left by Akshith’s death; it is about restoring confidence in IIMA as a nurturing and accountable institution. The trust of our students, faculty, and the broader community depends on our ability to confront difficult truths with transparency and integrity,” said the letter.

The faculty members said that they are yet to decide on the further course of action as there has been no response to the mail yet.As reported by The Indian Express earlier, the IIMA constituted an ‘Assessment, Review and Reform’ (ARR) committee and its Terms of Reference (ToR) on October 11 through an official email.

Apart from reviewing the major student events involving external and administrative interfaces, the ARR will also look into impact on students’ life, personally and professionally.