The division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice K.S. Gupta also asked the Union secretaries of the departments of personnel, health and expenditure to specify when the doctors' demands could be considered. The government had argued that the matter needed to be examined by the three secretaries. The explanation will be submitted in an affidavit.

Union government counsel Rakesh Tikoo sought time till June to state the maximum possible that can be done on the issue. On being asked by Rekha Palli, counsel for the AIIMS' Faculty Association, whether the government proposed to give any interim relief before announcing the revised pay scales, the government's answer was in the negative. While maintaining that the Dhanua Committee report, submitted in 1987, was implemented in toto, she stressed that the views of the doctors should be considered before the government took any decision on the pay scales.

The court said it did not want to go into the pay scales of the employees but wanted an amicable resolution to the imbroglio.