New Delhi, May 10 -- Disobedience of court orders attacks the foundation of the rule of law which is the basis of our democracy, the Supreme Court said on Friday, as it ordered demotion of a deputy collector in Andhra Pradesh to the post of tehsildar for disobeying a direction of the state's high court. A bench headed by justice Bhushan R Gavai passed the order while hearing an appeal filed by the official, Tata Mohan Rao, who was sentenced to two-month imprisonment by the high court. The high court's order came on the pleas alleging that Rao, who was then a tehsildar, forcibly removed huts in Guntur district on January 8, 2014 despite a December 11, 2013 direction restraining him from doing it. The apex court confirmed the high court's order, but modified the imprisonment order to demotion. As the official prayed for leniency, the top court noted that if the sentence is allowed to operate, he will be removed from service and the same would affect the wellbeing of his family and children. "Disobedience of orders of the court attacks the very basis of the rule of law on which our democracy is based," the bench, also comprising justice Augustine George Masih, said. "We want this message to go across the country that howsoever high in a post you may be, you are not above the law. Even persons in constitutional posts are bound to follow the orders of the court. You cannot disobey our orders." Noting that the official was promoted to deputy collector in 2023, the court ordered: "Petitioner is directed to reduction of one level in the hierarchy of his service. The state of Andhra Pradesh is directed to demote the petitioner to the post of tahsildar." The court also slapped a fine of Rs.1 lakh on Rao. The court was hearing the official's plea against a February 19, 2025 order of high court division bench which rejected his contempt appeals and sentenced him to two months in prison....