They submitted that preparatory steps have been taken by the State Election Commission (SEC) for conducting the civic polls as directed by the court.
"There is neither wilful nor wanton disobedience" on complying with orders of the court on conducting the local body elections", they submitted and prayed to close the contempt petition.
The matter relates to the contempt petition filed by the DMK, represented by its organisation secretary R S Bharathi, seeking to punish the officials for not complying with the orders of the high court which had earlier directed that the polls be completed by November 17.
The SEC and the secretary had appeared in the court on November 6 and 7 also when their counsel made a plea seeking exemption from their further appearance, which was strongly opposed by the DMK's senior counsel P Wilson.
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Wilson argued that about 1.31 lakh posts in various local bodies, including corporations, and panchayats, to be elected by the people, were lying vacant for more than one year and the court's order directing the SEC to complete the polls by November 17 was "brazenly defied".
Quoting the high court contempt rules, the counsel submitted that both the officials should be sent to jail straight away as they "have not only committed contempt so far but also have no intention to obey the court's order."
However, citing repeal of certain sections of the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994 by the state government through an ordinance on September 3, the SEC had later moved the court, saying there was a legal disability in conducting the polls as directed and sought to keep in abeyance the order.
The local body polls were originally slated to be held in October last year, but cancelled by Justice N Kirubakaran on a petition by the DMK seeking among others appropriate reservation as per latest census and rotation of seats according to the norms.
As the above order was not complied the original petitioner DMK has filed the contempt petition.
The contempt petition is scheduled to come for hearing tomorrow.
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