By Sampath Kumar BBC correspondent in Madras

Critics say school children are subject to laws that are out of date

Ramu Abhinav from Madras was found hanged at home after leaving a note saying he was fed up with school.

A teacher in the school has been arrested on charges of abetting his suicide.

Child protection groups are concerned at the increasing number of complaints of corporal punishment in schools.

Sixteen year-old Ramu left the note saying he was taking the extreme decision because he did not like the school.

His parents say their child was a victim of corporal punishment meted out by his teachers.

Bleeding wound

Relatives and classmates alleged that Ramu was beaten up by his teacher for not attending a special coaching class.

The mother of the boy first became suspicious after noticing a bleeding wound on his cheek which she said was caused by the beating.

One of his cousins - who left the school a few years ago and is now studying engineering at university - says the behaviour of the staff at the school was brutal and impulsive.

She says she was also beaten with a cane 40 times all over her body but did not complain due to fears she would be dismissed from school in the middle of an academic year.

The school principal denies the allegations

But many students have now come out openly to talk about the brutal punishment given to them in what they describe as a cell-like, dark room.

They say students were stripped and beaten in the darkness so that the teacher could not be identified.

Paralysed

This is one of several allegations of brutal harassment by teachers reported in the state in recent years.

A few months ago a teacher in one school threw a heavy book at a student resulting in a serious neck injury which paralysed him.

The child was no more than eight years-old.

Human and child rights activists blame outdated education laws introduced by the British and which permit corporal punishment.

An expert committee has been appointed to update the rules even as human right activists continue to demand its complete abolition.

Aludai Pillai, former vice chancellor of Madurai University, who is also the chairman of a group of schools, admits there were instances of corporal punishment at his schools.

"We dismissed a teacher when we came to know about it. Corporal punishment in front of classmates causes enormous mental agony affecting his personality," he said.