Jaganmohan Reddy, J.- This application seeks to have the respondent committed for contempt of the orders of this Court passed on 5th May, 1965, in C.M.P. No. 4013 of 1965 in W.P. No. 1068 of 1963. It appears that in C.M.P. No. 2916 of 1965 in W.P. No. 1068 of 1963, Gopalakrishnan Nair, J., by an order dated 31st March, 1965, directed the Tahsildar, Burgampad, to release the cattle belonging to the petitioners on condition that the petitioners should furnish security to the satisfaction of the Tahsildar for a sum of Rs. 4,000 within two weeks from that date. During the vacation, the petitioners filed an affidavit stating that pursuant to the orders passed on 31st March, 1965, they had given security before the Tahsildar on 14th April, 1965, that in spite of it, the Tahsildar is not releasing the cattle and that up till then 19 cattle have died due to starvation. They have also stated that on 9th April, 1965, they furnished a security bond for Rs. 4,000 in the Tahsil Office, giving their own patta land of Ac. 31.00, assessed at Rs. 92-50, but that the Tahsildar, out of malice and personal enmity, returned the security bond and stated that he would not be satisfied with any security other than cash. It was further averred that on 9th March, 1965 i.e., a month prior to the alleged furnishing of the security bond, the Tahsildar lodged a false complaint with the police against both the petitioners, and got them arrested, that he complained that they (the petitioners) had abused him and tried to attack him with shoes, that the police had filed a charge-sheet against them on 12th April, 1965, and that due to this enmity, it was humanly impossible to satisfy the Tahsildar with any security. On these representations, our learned brother, Kumarayya, J., passed the following order on 5th May, 1965, in C.M.P. No. 4013 of 1965: The Tahsildar under an erroneous impression that the petitioners have to deposit a sum of Rs. 4,000 is reported to have refused to accept the security furnished by the petitioners within two weeks from the date of the order of this Court. What the order contemplated was security and not cash deposit. Security of immovable property must satisfy the Tahsildar. 4,000 is reported to have refused to accept the security furnished by the petitioners within two weeks from the date of the order of this Court. What the order contemplated was security and not cash deposit. Security of immovable property must satisfy the Tahsildar. If he has not accepted the same, it means that he has not understood the tenor, purport or the implications of the order. Since the petitioners have done their duty, the Government Pleader has no objection if the cattle are directed to be released. They will be released forthwith." This order though addressed to the Deputy Secretary to the Government, who was the only respondent to the Writ Petition was a direction to the Tahsildar. It is alleged in the affidavit of one Hari Subbarao, Advocate, resident of Khammam, engaged by the petitioners, that he filed a petition before the Tahsildar of Burgampad on 10th May, 1965, that he also enclosed with that petition a carbon copy of the High Court’s order dated 5th May, 1965 in C.M.P. No. 4013 of 1965 in Writ Petition No. 1068 of 1963, that the Tahsildar read it but actually did not pass any orders on the petition for the release of the cattle, that again on13th May, 1965, he filed another petition by way of reminder, for the release of the cattle, that the Tahsildar orally told him that he was waiting for appropriate direction from his superiors and that he would not release the cattle unless he receives orders from his superiors, and that he also refused to give an acknowledgment receipt of that petition and as such, it was sent by registered post. At the time when the matter came up in the Vacation Court before a Bench consisting of our learned brothers Kumarayya and Narasimham, JJ., it was there stated: "As there is no controversy before us that security as directed by this Court has been furnished notice will issue to the respondent, returnable by 7th June, 1965." Even to this contempt petition, the Tahsildar was not made a party, but subsequently his name was brought on record, and the original respondent was given up. Then in Application No. 63 of 1965 we passed an order directing the release of the cattle to the petitioners forthwith. Then in Application No. 63 of 1965 we passed an order directing the release of the cattle to the petitioners forthwith. The respondent in his counter has refuted the allegations made in the affidavit in C.M.P. No. 4013 of 1965, that he had insisted on depositing Rs. 4,000 cash and had refused to accept the security bond. It will be rememberd that the allegation that the Tahsildar is not releasing the cattle in spite of their furnishing security, was the basis of the order made by our learned brother Kumarayya, J., and the learned Government Advocate also assumed that the only question was whether the order of Gopalakrishnan Nair, J., dated 31st March, 1965, required cash security alone or whether security of immovable property could be furnished. Having regard to the order, it was clear, and the learned Government Advocate conceded, that cash security could not be insisted upon, and on that assumption, which was based on the specific averment in the affidavit that security was in fact furnished and the cattle were required to be released. It so happened that as the counter-affidavit of the Tahsildar shows, the security bond was sent by registered post on 14th April, 1965. It was not registered. Besides, the Tahsildar was not satisfied whether the properties of one Sri B. Venkaiah can be accepted as security. The Tahsildar denied that he had ever insisted on cash security being furnished, but stated that he had directed the peter oners to furnish third party security. It is apparent now, that after the orders were passed, and, whether just before the contempt application was made or after that, security bond was not registered, so that at the time when the order dated 5th May, 1965, was passed, the statement of the petitioners that they had furnished security was not correct. The learned Advocate tries to take shelter by submitting that what was stated in the affidavit is not that a registered security bond was filed, but that a bond was filed. It is obvious that the Tahsildar could not release the cattle unless the security bond pertaining to immovable property was duly registered in accordance with the Registration Act. That the petitioners so understood it is obvious by the subsequent registration of the bond. It is obvious that the Tahsildar could not release the cattle unless the security bond pertaining to immovable property was duly registered in accordance with the Registration Act. That the petitioners so understood it is obvious by the subsequent registration of the bond. Be that as it may the question whether the order of 5h May, 1965, was obtained on a misstatement of fact is one thing, and the non-compliance with the orders of the High Court by the Tahsildar is another thing. In respect of this allegation, the Tahsildar states thus: “I humbly submit that a copy of this order was not marked to me and a copy of it was only marked to the Deputy Secretary to the Government in Revenue Department. I honestly believed that since a copy of the order was marked only to the Deputy Secretary, I should get instructions from him for the release of cattle. So I told the petitioners that I will obtain instructions from the higher authorities and release the cattle. I submit that I was anxious to implement the order of this Hon’ble Court but before doing so, I thought I should give prior intimation of this to the higher authorities I was affraid that the higher authorities might find fault with me if I released the cattle without intimating them. I humbly submit that I had no intention of showing the slightest disrespect to this Hon’ble Court’s order. Now I realise that I should have immediately released the cattle without waiting for the instructions from the higher authorities. For this act of mine I tender my unconditional apology and crave pardon of this Hon’ble Court.” In so far as the reasons for his not complying with the orders of this Court are concerned, they cannot be accepted as having any validity. When an order of the High Court directs a person to do something or omit to do something, it is incumbent on that person to comply with that order forthwith without any doubt or hesitation in his mind. The excuse that he may be found fault with by the higher authorities or that he should consult the higher authorities before complying with the orders of Court can be of no avail when he is asked to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt. The excuse that he may be found fault with by the higher authorities or that he should consult the higher authorities before complying with the orders of Court can be of no avail when he is asked to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt. No official superior can take any action against any of his subordinates for complying with the orders of Court. It is somewhat regrettable that there should prevail an attitude of mind, namely, that when orders of Court are received, a public servant should think that he has to approach his official superior and get further directions and get their permission also to comply with the directions of Court. We may reiterate the observations of Subbarao, C.J., (as he then was) in Jones Shield v. Ramesan1, “this Court will take a serious view, if public officers of responsibility act in such a manner as to obstruct the course of justice or disobey to implement the orders of Court, for such acts will undermine the prestige of Courts and set a bad example to the public.” The risk involved in hesitation or delay, for whatever reason, in complying with the orders of Court are serious, and the person disobeying them or not complying with them will alone be responsible for the consequences and he cannot be heard to say that he has referred the matter to his official superiors; and for that matter, his official superiors cannot give him any kind of protection. It may be pointed out that the arm of the law is long enough to reach even the superior officers themselves if they give instructions contrary to the orders of the Court, or give an impression to the subordinate officials that compliance with orders of Court without their approval will open them to disciplinary action or make them blameworthy. Similarly, an excuse, as we have found stated in some cases, that the order was received in office by some clerk and it was not placed before the officer to whom it is addressed and who has to comply, would not be of any avail. Similarly, an excuse, as we have found stated in some cases, that the order was received in office by some clerk and it was not placed before the officer to whom it is addressed and who has to comply, would not be of any avail. In our view, it is desirable that the Government should issue suitable instructions to their subordinate officials bringing to their notice the serious consequences of non-compliance with the orders of Court, on the plea that they have to first obtain orders of their official superiors before complying with the Court’s orders. Such instructions will obviate any fear or misconception in the mind of these officials that they may be opening themselves to disciplinary action if they comply with the orders of Court. In this case, having regard to the unconditional apology of the respondent and putting himself on the mercy of the Court, we think interests of justice will be served by accepting the apology. In the circumstances, no action is called for. The petition is accordingly dismissed. G.S.M. ----- Apology accepted; petition dismissed.