The genuineness of an apology, compliance with court orders, and future prospects of the respondents are relevant factors in deciding contempt proceedings.

AR. LAKSHMANAN, J.

( 1 ) WE have heard Mr. K. Ramamoorthy, learned senior advocate for the petitioners and Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee and Mr. Altaf Ahmad, learned senior advocates for the respondents.

( 2 ) THE above Contempt Petition was filed by Mr. K. Madalaimuthu and mr. A. Arumuga Nainar against Mr. M. Devaraj, IAS and Mr. M. Muthusamy, IAS to initiate contempt proceedings against them for having deliberately, wilfully disobeyed and disrespected the Judgment and Order dt. 04. 07. 2006 passed by this Court in CA no. 2791-2793/2002 and punish the respondent-contemnors for the said violation, disobedience and disrespect to the said Order of this Court. A further prayer was also made to set aside the Orders passed by the contemnors dated 25. 07. 2006 by which the junior of the petitioners had been promoted to the cadre of Additional inspector General of Registration and order dated 10. 08. 2006 of the first contemnor by which the said junior had been posted as Additional Registrar of Chits in the cadre of Additional Inspector of Registration in the existing vacancies.

( 3 ) THE third prayer is to direct the contemnors to re-determine the seniority in terms of the Judgment 04. 07. 2006 passed by this Court in C. A. No. 2791-2793/2002 and to promote the petitioners to the cadre of Additional Inspector General of registration in the Tamil Nadu Registration Service.

( 4 ) ON service of notice, both the respondents have appeared before us on the last occasion.

( 5 ) THE respondents have filed reply affidavit through Mr. M. Devaraj,. A. S. explaining the delay in complying with the order of this Court. In para 3, Mr. Devaraj has tendered his unconditional apology for his action. In the concluding portion of the affidavit, he has stated that there was no intention to disobey the orders of this court and that the implementation of the Orders was delayed only due to administrative and procedural delay. It is further stated that the respondents have been imple- menting Orders issued by this Court in various matters with very high regards and in letter and spirit.

( 6 ) IN para 6 of the said affidavit, he expressed his sincere sorry for the delay in complying with the Orders of this Court and the same has been caused due to the reasons mentioned in para supra of the said affidavit. It is also stated that it was never his intention to disobey the Orders of this Court and that he has great respect for this Court and its Orders.

( 7 ) IN the concluding portion, he once again tendered his unqualified and unconditional apology and pray that the action of the respondents may not be considered as violating any of the Orders of this Court and purge this Contempt proceedings.

( 8 ) WE have also perused the orders passed by the Department - G. O. (Ms.) No. 151 dt. 24. 11. 2006 (Annexure R-1) issued by the Commercial Taxes and Registration department and also the proceedings of the Inspector General of Registration (Annexure R-2) dt. 24. 11. 2006. An additional affidavit was also filed on behalf of the respondents through Mr. M. Devaraj,. A. S. The rejoinder was filed by the petitioners. Another reply affidavit was filed on behalf of the respondents to the rejoinder filed by the petitioners. The reasons for the delay have also been explained in the said affidavit.

( 9 ) OUR attention was also drawn to the order passed by the Government of Tamil nadu, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department- G. O. (Ms.) No. 30 dt. 19. 01. 2007 regarding refixing the seniority of Tvl. K. Madalaimuthu and a. Arumuga Nainar in the relevant panels in respect of higher post and g. O. (Ms.)No. 31 dt. 19. 01. 2007-promoting Thiru K. Madalaimuthu as Additional inspector General of Registration (Intelligence) in the office of the Inspector General of Registration.

( 10 ) OUR attention was also drawn to G. O. (Ms.)53, Commercial Taxes and Registration department, dt. 17. 02. 2007 and in particular para 4 at page 171 which reads thus :-

"4. In exercise of the powers