The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a Public Interest Litigation seeking the expeditious trial of criminal cases against influential persons, including politicians.

A Bench headed by Justice R C Lahoti heard the PIL, filed by advocate V K Ohri.

The advocate alleged that they had misused the law to delay the trials and cited the case against Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren, pending before a Jamtara court in Jharkhand for more than 25 years.

The petitioner alleged that there was a complete collapse of criminal justice system in the country, particularly Jharkhand.

"It appears that the wheel of criminal justice system does not move at all and every strategy is being adopted to delay the trial and the state machinery is also being used to seek withdrawal of charges on absurd considerations," the petition alleged.

The petitioner urged the court to direct all states and high courts to ensure that the trials are completed expeditiously under the supervision of the high courts.