Pronouncing the orders, Justice R.L. Anand of the High Court also directed the handing over of the investigations to the Crime Branch of the Chandigarh Police for "making necessary investigations into the matter and completing the same within six months".

Deferring the petitioner's prayer for compensation, Justice Anand observed that the court "shall like to wait for the result of the investigations". Justice Anand also observed: "Even with the lapse of time, Darshan Singh Dalla has not been produced before any court of competent jurisdiction, therefore, a reasonable inference should be drawn that either he has been eliminated when he was in custody or his presence is still being withheld. All these matters require investigation". Dalla, according to the petitioner, had disappeared in 1989.The petitioner, an advocate from District Courts Ludhiana, D.S. Gill, had earlier submitted that Dalla had apparently remained in custody of the Para Military Forces as a booklet published by the Union of India was based on his alleged disclosure. "The State Government should be deemed to be in knowledge of his whereabouts," Gill had added.

It was further contended that Dalla had not been produced even though directions were issued by the High Court on November 11, 1989.

Seeking an interrogation into Dalla's disappearance, the counsel for the petitioner had added that the State Government, besides the Union of India and the other respondents, had willfully disobeyed the High Court's orders. He had also sought the imposition of exemplary costs upon the respondents, besides compensation to Dalla's legal heirs after holding that he had been eliminated or was in illegal custody.