Six years after denying a higher pay scale to teacher Sanjay Salve for refusing to fold his hands during prayer time, the management of the school he worked for has finally backed down.

The Savitribai Phule Secondary School in Nashik informed the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday that it was ready to pay Mr. Salve’s dues from 2008, the year from which he was eligible for higher pay scale. The school also agreed to let him stand without folding his hands during prayers.

The Hindu had reported the teacher’s fight against the management, which had withheld his increments.

His argument is that he is an atheist and that compulsory prayer goes against the Constitution. (“Pray, what wrong did I do, asks atheist teacher,” The Hindu , September 1).

The court asked the management to draft consent terms within the next 15 days and seek Mr. Salve’s approval. “If both parties agree on consent terms, then we can resolve the matter in the next hearing,” said Justice Abhay Oka.

‘No issue with teaching skills’

The court observed that all his confidential reports from and before 2008 were “excellent.” It said, “There has been no issue at all regarding his teaching skills. Higher pay scale, as per rules, is his right.”

Mr. Salve’s lawyer Sanghraj Rupwate assured the court that the teacher would respect the prayers and stand but not fold his hands.

“He shouldn’t be disallowed from attending the prayer session,” said Mr. Rupwate.

The court then directed the management not to ask him to stay away from the prayer session.

The school has agreed to let Mr. Salve stand without folding his hands during prayers