The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Centre that it would permit counselling for postgraduate medical courses only after hearing objections of petitioners who have challenged the income criterion set for the economically weaker sections.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud turned down solicitor-general Tushar Mehta’s plea that the counselling be allowed to begin as it was causing difficulties to MBBS doctors aspiring for PG seats. The Centre has failed to explain in court why it set an annual income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh for the EWS quota in the all-India pool seats.

The court said it would continue to hear the matter on Thursday, after which it would pass some orders.

“Let us proceed with the counselling. Let that stage be over. Your Lordships may start hearing the matter in the meanwhile. I admit it was not your Lordship’s order which prevented counselling. When the statement was made, the situation was not anticipated,” Mehta told the bench.

The bench, however, told Mehta that it would hear the views of at least two senior advocates — Shyam Divan and Arvind Datar — who had opposed the EWS quota before permitting the Centre to go ahead with the counselling.