The Supreme Court on Monday extended its earlier order directing a special judge at Raipur, trying Nationalist Congress Party leader Ram Avatar Jaggi murder case, not to pronounce the judgment till January 12.
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit Jogi is the main accused in the case.
A bench headed by Justice K G Balakrishnan also issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Amit Jogi and the Chhattisgarh government on a petition filed by Jaggi's son Satish Jaggi, seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.
Satish Jaggi said the present judge is a relative of a Congress leader who is close to the Jogi family.
The petition challenged the Chhattisgarh high court order declining a transfer.
The apex court said that on the law point, the high court was correct but at the same time it also observed: "If we ask the trial to be shifted on the ground that the judge is a relative of a Congress MLA, it would be embarrassment for the judge."
Earlier, lawyer Arun Jaitley, appearing for Satish Jaggi, said an early hearing of the matter was necessary as the Chhattisgarh high court has directed the completion of the trial by the end of the month.
The CBI filed has charged Amit Jogi for allegedly conspiring and financing the murder of Jaggi, a treasurer of state unit of the NCP.
Jaggi was shot dead on June 4, 2003.