IIT tells 7 boys to stay at home for 6 months to 2 years, revokes expulsion, suspension
Times of India | 15 November 2025
Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur revoked its decision to expel three students, who were engaging in a violent fight on the campus, and instead, asked two of them to stay at home for four semesters or two years and the third one for two semesters or one year.
The institute termed the revised punishment "semesters-at-home rehabilitation".
Four other students engaged in the same fight were also sent on home rehabilitation for a semester, instead of being suspended, as decided earlier.
Any student under home rehabilitation will be disengaged from all academic activities of the institute.
TOI had reported on the institute's decision to expel three and suspend four students for a semester for engaging in a violent fight on the campus that had led to a severe head injury of a student.
Four others, including the one who suffered the injury, were issued warnings against getting involved in any dispute with any other student.
Professors and students pointed out that this was probably the first time that such strict disciplinary action was being taken against multiple students, suggesting the violent nature of the fight that could have cost someone's life. "The decision was reached after careful consideration through multiple levels of review, including appeals from parents and students at the highest level of the institute," said IIT director Suman Chakraborty.
"We want to make it clear that in an institute like IIT, such an incident will not be tolerated. But at the same time, we have treated this issue with empathy so that students learn their lesson and get a chance to reform themselves."
He added, "The standard duration of their respective study programmes will be extended by the length of the rehabilitation period so that the students can resume and complete their courses smoothly following their rehabilitation period.
Throughout their rehabilitation period, they will be in continuous touch with the dean of student well-being's office. They are encouraged to participate in constructive and socially meaningful activities.
Depending on the extent of participation and nature of outcomes, such contributions may reflect in their academic transcripts as extra-academic credits, earned during this absence. These activities are intended to foster personal growth and community engagement."
A professor said that the two students, who had been recommended four-semester at-home rehabilitation, had been asked to vacate their hostel rooms immediately. The others have been granted time to vacate their hostels by Nov 26, after the completion of their end-semester exams. An official said, "Once they return to the campus after the rehabilitation period, they will have to submit a joining report and an undertaking, saying they will adhere to the institute code of conduct and maintain discipline.
The undertaking will be signed by them and their legal guardians."