In Brief
Dev Wati and others appealed against the High Court's decision allowing an application under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code to summon them as additional accused in a homicide case. The sole basis for summoning was the deposition of a single witness (the deceased's brother) who implicated them. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that while Section 319 requires a stronger standard than prima facie case, the High Court's decision was sustainable. The Court applied the test laid down in Hardeep Singh that the word "appear" requires a degree of satisfaction more than mere probability but short of conviction-level proof.
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