New Delhi, Aug 26 - The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the state government over giving phone facility to the prisoners in Tihar Jail.

The court took cognisance of a letter written by former police officer R.K. Sharma, serving a life term for murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, demanding telephone facility in the country's largest prison which houses around 11,000 prisoners.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan asked the government to file a reply by Oct 7, the next date of hearing.

The court also appointed senior counsel Arvind Nigam as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the matter.

Sharma, a former inspector general of police, said in his letter that among the measures to reform the functioning of prisons, a landline telephone facility should be provided to the inmates.