From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 10:30 PM IST

The Madras High Court Wednesday ordered a school to pay a compensation of Rs.600,000 to the parents of an 11-year-old student killed in a classroom clash in 2004.

Allowing a writ petition by P.N. Kanakaraj, father of the schoolboy who was killed, Judge Paul Vasanthakumar ruled that the Tamil Nadu government should ensure payment of the compensation before Jan 12, lawyers for Kanakaraj told IANS.

According to lawyers, Jagan Kumar was declared dead when he was belatedly brought to a hospital following a classroom brawl that took place during the absence of teachers in Pollachi, Coimbatore district, some 600 km southwest of here.

Kanakaraj had demanded a compensation of Rs.1 million since his only child was killed allegedly due to school authorities' negligence.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)