LUCKNOW, Dec. 27 -- Taking strong exception to the removal of a landowner's name from revenue records and the demolition of a structure without granting an opportunity of hearing, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has ordered restoration of the land to the petitioner and imposed a cost of Rs.20 lakh on the state government.

The court also directed rectification of revenue records and ordered that possession of the disputed land be handed back to the petitioner. The cost amount is to be paid to the petitioner within two months, the court said.

A single bench of Justice Alok Mathur passed the order on December 19 on a petition filed by Savitri Sonkar, who had challenged the actions of revenue authorities in relation to her lan...