Dividing 4-3, the New York Court of Appeals yesterday revived an effort to extend for another two years a 2003 class action settlement requiring New York City to assist some 6,000 mentally ill jail inmates a year with their re-entry to society.

The Court’s ruling in Brad H. v. City of New York, No. 126, reversed a decision of the Appellate Division, First Department, finding the class’ lawyers had waited too long to seek the two-year extension.