"If there is no compliance with our order, it is complete breakdown of Constitutional machinery. We will then have to direct the government to impose President's rule," a bench headed by acting Chief Justice B N Aggarwal and Justice P Sathasivam said.

The Bench's remarks came when the counsel appearing for AIADMK mentioned that on Sunday's order was not being complied with by the government and state-run buses were not plying in Tamil Nadu.

In an extraordinary sitting on Sunday, the bench stayed the bandh called by the ruling DMK front and asked the government to stop it.

"Is this a government. Is this the Tamil Nadu government. Is this the DMK government, a strong ally of UPA government? If this is attitude of the DMK government, the UPA government should not feel shy of dismissing it and imposing President rule," the bench observed.

The Bench said, if the Tamil Nadu government would not comply with its order, it would not hesitate to summon the Chief Secretary.

"You can file a contempt petition," the Bench said, when the AIADMK counsel apprised it about the situation prevailing in the state.

The DMK counsel told the court that only party leaders are sitting on fast and only some unions are involved in such activities.

We will not disturb Tamil Nadu Govt: Centre

With the Supreme Court warning the Tamil Nadu government that it would not hesitate to direct the Centre to impose President's rule if the state fails to comply with its order on bandh, the Centre on Monday said it would do nothing to "hurt" the DMK-led government.

"We will do nothing to hurt the Tamil Nadu government. We are committed. They (DMK) are part of our government. We will not disturb the state government remotely, directly or explicitly," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said.

He was replying to a spate of questions on the apex court's observations that if there was no compliance with its order on bandh, it will have to direct the government to impose President's rule.

Maintaining that the issue did not figure in the Union Cabinet meeting, Dasmunsi said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is "one of the stalwarts" not just of the DMK but of the entire country.

He said the Chief Minister has begun a "fast and (is) not violating the court order. This is a non-violent response showing respect to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals a day ahead of his birth anniversary."

Karunanidhi, Dasmunsi said, has set an example through his support and concern for the poorest of the poor, the scheduled castes and tribes, minorities and the downtrodden sections of the people.