The latest ruling came after lawyers appealed the verdict of a lower bench that recommended the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the killing in 2003 of 17-year-old Hannah Foster.

"They stayed the extradition process," prosecuting lawyer Naveen Kumar Mata told AFP here Monday.

"At the next date of hearing we'll file a reply."

The next hearing on Kohli's extradition will take place July 6, Mata said.

Kohli fled Britain days after being named as a suspect. He was arrested in India's remote northeast in July 2004, after Foster's parents had travelled to India and offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.