The apex court had constituted the panel to probe the nine cases while adjudicating a plea by the National Human Rights Commission, which moved the court for a CBI probe into those cases.

While assigning the task of probing the role of Modi and 62 others, the apex court had asked the probe panel to keep it informed of its findings every quarter.

The panel had also sought extension of its tenure on the grounds that it was yet to complete its task. The bench agreed, brushing aside the state government's objections.

The court rejected the plea by another senior counsel Prashant Bhushan, who wanted the court not to extend the panel's tenure till Dec 31 in one go. He wanted the court to extend the same only up to Oct 31 so that the panel remains 'under pressure' to complete its task at the earliest.

The bench also rejected Bhushan's plea to take up the hearing of his lawsuit, seeking contempt to court proceedings against Modi for allegedly saying that the apex court passed its April order in collusion with the Congress party.

The court said the lawsuit would be listed in due course for hearing.