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Q.WhatfactsarerelevantunderIndianEvidenceAct?
Sections6to55ofIndianEvidenceActdescribethefactsthataredeemedrelevant.Theseareasfollows[TrOcMI
ConODCSABADOJOC]
Section6RelevancyoffactsformingpartofsametransactionFactswhich,thoughnotinissue,aresoconnectedwith
afactinissueastoformpartofthesametransaction,arerelevant,whethertheyoccurredatthesametimeandplaceorat
differenttimesandplaces.Forexample(a)AisaccusedofthemurderofBbybeatinghim.WhateverwassaidordonebyA
orBorthebystandersatthebeating,orsoshortlybeforeorafteritastoformpartofthetransaction,isarelevantfact.

Section7Factswhicharetheoccasion,causeoreffectoffactsinissueFactswhicharetheoccasion,causeoreffect,
immediateorotherwise,ofrelevantfacts,orfactsinissue,orwhichconstitutethestateofthingsunderwhichtheyhappened,
whichaffordedanopportunityfortheiroccurrenceortransaction,arerelevant.
Forexamplea)Thequestionis,whetherArobbedB.Thefactsthat,shortlybeforetherobbery,Bwenttoafairwithmoney
inhispossession,andthatheshoweditormentionedthefactthathehadit,tothirdpersons,arerelevant.

Section8Motive,preparationandpreviousorsubsequentconductAnyfactisrelevantwhichshowsorconstitutesa
motiveorpreparationforanyfactinissueorrelevantfact
Forexample(a)AistriedforthemurderofBThefactsthatAmurderedC,thatBknewthatAhadmurderedC,andthatB
hadtriedtoextortmoneyfromAbythreateningtomakehisknowledgepublic,arerelevant

Section9FactsnecessarytoexplainorintroducerelevantfactsFactsnecessarytoexplainorintroduceafactinissue
orrelevantfact,orwhichsupportorrebutaninferencesuggestedbyafactinissueorrelevantfact,orwhichestablishthe
identityofanythingorpersonwhoseidentityisrelevant,orfixthetimeorplaceatwhichanyfactinissueorrelevantfact
happened,orwhichshowtherelationofpartiesbywhomanysuchfactwastransacted,arerelevantinsofarastheyare
necessaryforthatpurpose
Forexample,(a)Thequestionis,whetheragivendocumentisthewillofAThestateofA'spropertyandofhisfamilyatthe
dateoftheallegedwillmayberelevantfacts

Section10ThingssaidordonebyconspiratorinreferencetocommondesignWherethereisreasonableroundto
believethattwoormorepersonshaveconspiredtogethertocommitanoffenceoranactionablewrong,anythingsaid,done
orwrittenbyanyoneofsuchpersonsinreferencetotheircommonintention,afterthetimewhensuchintentionwasfirst
entertainedbyanyoneofthem,isarelevantfactasagainsteachofthepersonsbelievedtobesoconspiring,aswellforthe
purposeofprovingtheexistenceoftheconspiracyasforthepurposeofshowingthatanysuchpersonwasapartytoit

Section11WhenfactsnototherwiserelevantbecomerelevantFactsnototherwiserelevantarerelevant(1)iftheyare
inconsistentwithanyfactinissueorrelevantfact(2)ifbythemselvesorinconnectionwithotherfactstheymakethe
existenceornonexistenceofanyfactinissueorrelevantfacthighlyprobableorimprobable
Forexample,(a)ThequestioniswhetherAcommittedacrimeatCalcuttaonacertaindayThefactthat,onthatday,Awas
atLahoreisrelevant

Section12Insuitsfordamages,factstendingtoenableCourttodetermineamountarerelevantInsuitsinwhich
damagesareclaimed,anyfactwhichwillenabletheCourttodeterminetheamountofdamageswhichoughttobeawarded,
isrelevant

Section13FactsrelevantwhenrightorcustomisinquestionWherethequestionisastotheexistenceofanyrightor
custom,thefollowingfactsarerelevant:
(a)anytransactionbywhichtherightorcustominquestionwascreated,claimed,modified,recognized,assertedordenied,
orwhichwasinconsistentwithitsexistence:
(b)particularinstancesinwhichtherightorcustomwasclaimed,recognizedorexercised,orinwhichitsexercisewas
disputed,assertedordepartedfrom
ForexampleThequestioniswhetherAhasarighttoafisheryAdeedconferringthefisheryonA'sancestors,amortgage
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ofthefisherybyA'sfather,asubsequentgrantofthefisherybyA'sfather,irreconcilablewiththemortgage,particular
instancesinwhichA'sfatherexercisedtheright,orinwhichtheexerciseoftherightwasstoppedbyA'sneighbors,are
relevantfacts

Section14Factsshowingexistenceofstateofmind,orofbody,ofbodilyfeelingFactsshowingtheexistenceofany
stateofmind,suchasintention,knowledge,goodfaith,negligence,rashness,illwillorgoodwilltowardsanyparticular
person,orshowingtheexistenceofanystateofbodyorbodilyfeeling,arerelevant,whentheexistenceofanysuchstateof
mindorbodyorbodilyfeeling,isinissueorrelevant
Forexample,(a)AisaccusedofreceivingstolengoodsknowingthemtobestolenItisprovedthathewasinpossessionof
aparticularstolenarticleThefactthat,atthesametime,hewasinpossessionofmany
otherstolenarticlesisrelevant,astendingtoshowthathekneweachandallofthearticlesofwhichhewasinpossessionto
bestolen

Section15FactsbearingonquestionwhetheractwasaccidentalorintentionalWhenthereisaquestionwhetheran
actwasaccidentalorintentional,ordonewithaparticularknowledgeorintention,thefactthatsuchactformedpartofa
seriesofsimilaroccurrences,ineachofwhichthepersondoingtheactwasconcerned,isrelevant
Forexample,(a)AisaccusedofburningdownhishouseinordertoobtainmoneyforwhichitisinsuredThefactsthatA
livedinseveralhousessuccessivelyeachofwhichheinsured,ineachofwhichafireoccurred,andaftereachof
whichfiresAreceivedpaymentfromadifferentinsuranceoffice,arerelevant,astendingtoshowthatthefireswerenot
accidental

Section16ExistenceofcourseofbusinesswhenrelevantWhenthereisaquestionwhetheraparticularactwasdone,
theexistenceofanycourseofbusiness,accordingtowhichitnaturallywouldhavebeendone,isarelevantfact
Forexample,(a)Thequestionis,whetheraparticularletterwasdispatchedThefactsthatitwastheordinarycourseof
businessforalllettersputinacertainplacetobecarriedtothepost,andthatparticularletterwasputinthatplaceare
relevant

Sections17to31Admissionoffactsbyparticularpersonsisrelevant.

Sections32and33Statementsbypersonswhocannotbecalledwitnessinspecifiedcircumstancesarewithdefinite
conditionsarerelevant.
Sections34to38Statementsmadeinanextraordinarycircumstance,anystatementmadeonanylawwhichis
insertedinsomebooks,isrelevant.

Sections4044Judgmentsofcourtsarerelevantincertainsituations.
Sections4551Opinionofthirdpersonisrelevantincertainsituations.
Sections5255Characterofapersonisrelevantincertainsituations.

Q.Arethosefactsalsorelevantwhicharetheoccasion,cause,oreffectoffactsin
issue?
Yes,factsbecauseofwhichfactsinissuetakebirth,orfactswhichtakebirthbecauseoffactsisissuearealsoconsidered
relevantfact.Evidencecanbegivenforthesetofcircumstancesunderwhichtheprinciplefactsoccurred.AsperSection7
Factswhicharetheoccasion,causeoreffect,immediateorotherwise,ofrelevantfacts,orfactsinissue,orwhichconstitute
thestateofthingsunderwhichtheyhappened,whichaffordedanopportunityfortheiroccurrenceortransaction,arerelevant.
Illustrations
(a)Thequestionis,whetherArobbedB.Thefactsthat,shortlybeforetherobbery,Bwenttoafairwithmoneyinhis
possession,andthatheshoweditormentionedthefactthathehadit,tothirdpersons,arerelevant.
(b)Thequestionis,whetherAmurderedB.Marksontheground,producedbyastruggleatorneartheplacewherethe
murderwascommitted,arerelevantfacts.
(c)Thequestionis,whetherApoisonedB.ThestateofB'shealthbeforethesymptomsascribedtopoison,andhabitsof
B,knowntoA,whichaffordedanopportunityfortheadministrationofpoison,arerelevantfacts.
Thissectionincludefollowingtypesoffacts
1.OccasionOccasionmeansthecircumstancesinwhichaneventoccurred.Evidenceofsuchcircumstanceiseligibleto
given.Forexample,inthecaseofRvsRichardson,whereapersonwaschargedwiththerapeandmurderofagirl,thefact
thatthegirlwasaloneinhercottageatthetimeofhermurderisrelevantbecauseitprovidedtheoccasioninwhichthecrime
happened.
2.CauseFactsthatformthecauseoffactsinissuearerelevant.Forexample,Aischargedofcriminalmisappropriationof
fundsfromabank.ThefactthatAwashugelyindebtatthetimeofcommittingthecrimeisarelevantfactbecauseitindicates
apossiblecauseofthecommissionofthecrime.ThisissimilartomotiveasgiveninSection8.Howeverthismaynotalways
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bethecase.Forexample,inthecaseofIndianAirlinesvsMadhuriChaudhuryAIR1965,thereportofanInquiry
CommissionrelatingtoanaircrashwasheldrelevantunderSection7asestablishingthecauseoftheaccident.
3.EffectsEveryactcausessomeeffectthatleadstosomeotherhappening.Theseeffectsnotonlyrecordthehappeningof
themainactbutalsothrowslightuponthenatureoftheact.Forexample,whereapersonispoisoned,thesymptoms
producedareeffectsofthefactinissueandsoarerelevant.
4.OpportunityCircumstanceswhichprovideanopportunityforthehappeningofafactinissuearerelevant.Forexample,a
breakfromthedailyroutineofapersonmaybetheopportunitythatisusedthepersontocommitthecrime.Forexample,in
RvsRichardson,thefactthatRichardsonlefthisfellowworkersataboutthetimeofmurderunderthepretenseofgoingtoa
smith'sshopisrelevantbecauseitprovidedanopportunityforthefactinissue,namelyherrapeandmurder,tohappen.
5.StateofThingsFactswhichconstitutethestateofthingsunderwhichorinthebackgroundofwhichtheprinciplefacts
happenedarerelevant.Forexample,inthefactoreRattanvsReginum,AIR1971,apersonshothiswifeandhispleawas
thatitwasanaccident.Thefactthathewasunhappywithhiswifeandwashavinganaffairwithanotherwoman,washeldto
bearelevantfact.

Q."Anyfactisrelevantwhichshowsorconstitutesamotiveorpreparationand
conductofanyfactinissueorrelevantfact".Explain.
ThisstatementistakenfromSection8ofIndianEvidenceAct,whichisasfollows
Section8Motive,preparationandpreviousorsubsequentconductAnyfactisrelevantwhichshowsorconstitutesa
motiveorpreparationforanyfactinissueorrelevantfact.Theconductofanyparty,orofanyagenttoanyparty,toanysuitor
proceeding,inreferencetosuchsuitorproceeding,orinreferencetoanyfactinissuethereinorrelevantthereto,andthe
conductofanypersonanoffenceagainstwhomisthesubjectofanyproceeding,isrelevant,ifsuchconductinfluencesoris
influencedbyanyfactinissueorrelevantfact,andwhetheritwaspreviousorsubsequentthereto.
Explanation1Theword"conduct"inthissectiondoesnotincludestatements,unlessthosestatementsaccompanyand
explainactsotherthanstatementsbutthisexplanationisnottoaffecttherelevancyofstatementsunderanyothersectionof
thisAct.
Explanation2Whentheconductofanypersonisrelevant,anystatementmadetohimorinhispresenceandhearing,
whichaffectssuchconduct,isrelevant.
Illustrations
(a)AistriedforthemurderofB.ThefactsthatAmurderedC,thatBknewthatAhadmurderedC,andthatBhadtriedto
extortmoneyfromAbythreateningtomakehisknowledgepublic,arerelevant.
(b)AsuesBuponabondforthepaymentofmoney.Bdeniesthemakingofthebond.Thefactthat,atthetimewhenthebond
wasallegedtobemade,Brequiredmoneyforaparticularpurpose,isrelevant.
(c)AistriedforthemurderofBbypoison.Thefactthat,beforethedeathofB,Aprocuredpoisonsimilartothatwhichwas
administeredtoB,isrelevant.
(d)Thequestionis,whetheracertaindocumentisthewillofA.Thefactsthat,notlongbeforethedateoftheallegedwill,A
madeinquiryintomatterstowhichtheprovisionsoftheallegedwillrelate,thatheconsultedvakilsinreferencetomakingthe
will,andthathecauseddraftsofotherwillstobepreparedofwhichhedidnotapprove,arerelevant.
(e)Aisaccusedofacrime.Thefactsthat,eitherbeforeoratthetimeof,oraftertheallegedcrime,Aprovidedevidencewhich
wouldtendtogivetothefactsofthecaseanappearancefavorabletohimself,orthathedestroyedorconcealedevidence,or
preventedthepresenceorprocuredtheabsenceofpersonswhomighthavebeenwitnesses,orsubornedpersonstogive
falseevidencerespectingit,arerelevant.
(f)Thequestionis,whetherArobbedB.Thefactsthat,afterBwasrobbed,CsaidinA'spresence"thepolicearecomingto
lookforthemanwhorobbedB,"andthatimmediatelyafterwardsAranaway,arerelevant.
(g)Thequestionis,whetherAowesBrupees10,000.ThefactsthatAaskedCtolendhimmoney,andthatDsaidtoCinA's
presenceandhearing"IadviseyounottotrustA,forheowesB10,000rupees,"andthatAwentawaywithoutmakingany
answer,arerelevantfacts.
(h)Thequestionis,whetherAcommittedacrime.ThefactthatAabscondedafterreceivingaletterwarninghimthatinquiry
wasbeingmadeforthecriminal,andthecontentsoftheletter,arerelevant.
(i)Aisaccusedofacrime.Thefactsthat,afterthecommissionoftheallegedcrime,heabsconded,orwasinpossessionof
propertyortheproceedsofpropertyacquiredbythecrime,orattemptedtoconcealthingswhichwereormighthavebeen
usedincommittingit,arerelevant.
(j)Thequestionis,whetherAwasravished.Thefactsthat,shortlyaftertheallegedrape,shemadeacomplaintrelatingtothe
crime,thecircumstancesunderwhich,andthetermsinwhich,thecomplaintwasmade,arerelevant.Thefactthat,without
makingacomplaint,shesaidthatshehadbeenravishedisnotrelevantasconductunderthissection,thoughitmaybe
relevantasadyingdeclarationundersection32,clause(1),orascorroborativeevidenceundersection157.
(k)Thequestionis,whetherAwasrobbed.Thefactthat,soonaftertheallegedrobbery,hemadeacomplaintrelatingtothe
offence,thecircumstancesunderwhich,andthetermsinwhich,thecomplaintwasmade,arerelevant.Thefactthathesaid
hehadbeenrobbedwithoutmakinganycomplaint,isnotrelevant,asconductunderthissection,thoughitmayberelevant
asadyingdeclarationundersection32,clause(1),orascorroborativeevidenceundersection157.
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Thissectionprovidesfortherelevancyofthreeprincipalfactswhichareveryimportantinconnectionwithanycase,namely,
Motive,Preparation,andConduct.
MotiveMotiveisthepowerthatimpelsonetodoanact.Itisakindofinducementfordoingtheact.Motivebyitselfisnota
crimebutishelpfulinestablishingguilt.Evidenceofmotivehelpsthecourtconnecttheaccusedwiththedeedandissovery
relevant.Forexample,onthemurderofanoldwidow,thefactthattheaccusedwastoinheritherwealthwasheldasrelevant
asitshowedthattheaccusedhadthemotivetokillher.Inanothercase,awomanwhoagoodswimmerhaddrownandthe
factthattheaccused,herhusband,washavinganaffairwithanotherwomanwasheldrelevantasitexplainedthemotive
behindthemurder.
PreparationTheactsofpreparationforacrimearerelevant.Preparationbyitselfisnotacrime(exceptincertainoffenses
suchaswagingawaragainstGovt.ofIndia)butthefactsthatshowthepreparationtiethepreparertotheactualcrimeandso
arerelevant.Forexample,actofpurchasingapoisonshowsthepreparationofthemurderbyadministeringpoison.
ConductThestateofmindofapersonisoftenreflectedinhisconductandsoconductofapersonisarelevantfact.This
sectionmakestheconductofanypartytoacivilsuiteortheiragentsrelevant.Inacriminalcase,theconductoftheaccused
before,while,orafterdoingtheactisdeemedrelevant.However,twoconditionsmustbefulfilledfortheconducttobe
relevant
1.Theconductmustbeinreferencetothefactsinissueorthefactsrelatedtothem.
2.Theconductissuchasinfluencesorisinfluencedbythefactsinissueorrelevantfacts.

Q.Whendofactsnototherwiserelevantbecomerelevant?
Afact,whichdoesnothaveanysuchrelationasdefinedinSection6to55tothefactinissueisnotarelevantfactand
ordinarilyevidencecannotbegivenforsuchafact.However,whenanirrelevantfactissuchthatitmakestheexistenceor
nonexistenceofafactinissuehighlyprobableorimprobable,itbecomesveryimportantforthecasebecauseithelpsthe
courttodeterminethetruth.Suchafactoughttobebroughtbeforethecourt.ThisistheconceptembodiedinSection11.It
saysthefollowing:Section11Factsnototherwiserelevant,arerelevant.(1)iftheyareinconsistentwithanyfactinissue
orrelevantfact(2)if,bythemselvesorinconnectionwithotherfactstheymaketheexistenceornonexistenceofanyfactin
issueorrelevantfacthighlyprobableorimprobable.
Illustrations(a)Thequestionis,whetherAcommittedacrimeatCalcuttaonacertainday.
Thefactthat,onthatday,AwasatLahore,isrelevant.
Thefactthat,nearthetimewhenthecrimewascommitted,Awasatadistancefromtheplacewhereitwascommitted,which
wouldrenderithighlyimprobable,thoughnotimpossible,thathecommittedit,isrelevant.
(b)Thequestionis,whetherAcommittedacrime.
ThecircumstancesaresuchthatthecrimemusthavebeencommittedeitherbyA,B,CorD.Everyfactwhichshowsthatthe
crimecouldhavebeencommittedbynooneelseandthatitwasnotcommittedbyeitherB,CorDisrelevant.
Asgiveninillustrationsabove,analibiisaverycommonexampleofanirrelevantfactbecomingrelevant.Indeed,ifa
personisprovedtobenotatthelocationofthecrimeatthetimeofthecrime,hecannothavecommittedthecrime.However,
theburdenofproofisontheaccusedandstrictevidenceisrequiredtoestablishsuchpleasForexample,incaseofMithilesh
UpadhyayavsStateofBihar,1997,theaccusedstatedthathewasinthehospitalatthetimeofcrimebutdidnotgiveany
supportingdocuments.Hispleawasnotaccepted.
Itmustbenotedthatthissectionisquitewideinitsscope.Itdoesnotplaceanyrestrictionupontherangeoffactsthatcanbe
admittedasshowinginconsistenciesorprobabilities.Anyfactthatmakestheexistenceofafactinissuehighlyprobableor
improbableiscovered.JAMESFITZAMESSTEPHEN,theauthoronIndianEvidenceActinhisbookIntroductionToThe
IndianEvidenceAct,observedthatthefactsrelevantunderS.11would,inmostcases,berelevantunderothersections.The
objectofdrawingtheactinthismannerwasthatthegeneralgroundonwhichfactsarerelevantmightbestatedinsomany
andpopularformsaspossible,sothatifafactisrelevantitsrelevancymaybeeasilyascertained.
However,manyfactscanbeconnectedtofactsinissueorrelevantfactsthroughalongchainofratiocinationbutthatwill
unnecessarilycomplicatethetrialandwillbedetrimentaltospeedyjustice.Thus,tolimitthethefactswhicharecoveredin
thissection,weneedtounderstandwhichfactsarenotrelevant.Irrelevantfactsarethefactsthatcomeundertherulesof
exclusion,namelyfactsthatcomeunderhearsayandfactsthatcomeundertheprincipleatransactionbetweentwoparties
oughtnotbeoperatetothedisadvantageofthethird.Exampleoffactsunderhearsayis,"Mr.XsaidthatMr.Yiscorrupt"or
"Everybodysaysacertainofficeriscorrupt."Thisfactishearsayandislegallyirrelevant.Examplesofsecondtypeoffacts
includestatementsmadebehindthebackofapersonagainstwhomtheyaresoughttobeusedasevidence,similar
unconnectedtransactions,andopinionofthirdparties.Ruleinsection11makessuchfactsrelevantiftheyareinconsistent
withthefactsinissueormaketheirexistenceornonexistencehighlyprobable.Thus,theonlycriteriaforgivingevidence
offactundersection11isthatitshouldmaketheexistenceofafactinissuehighlyprobableorimprobable.InRamKumar
PandayvsStateofMP,1975,itwasheldthatimportantomissionswouldberelevantunderthisrule.

Q.Howfarischaracterrelevantandadmissibleinevidenceincivilandcriminal
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cases?
Acharacterofapersonisaveryvagueandsubjectiveaspect.Itisatbestimpreciseandatworstdangeroustodrawan
inferenceabouttheliabilityofapersonfromhischaracter.Therefore,thegeneralruleisthatcharacterofapersonisnot
relevantforestablishingguilt.However,therearecertainexceptionalsituationswherecharacterofapersonisimportantfor
thecase.ProvisionsregardingtherelevancyofcharacterarespecifiedinSections52,53,54,and55.Therearedifferent
rulesaboutrelevancyofcharacterincivilandcriminalcases.
RelevancyinCivilCases
Section52laysdownageneralprincipleforcivilsuitsthattheevidenceofaparty'scharactercannotbegiventoshowthat
theconductattributedtothepartyisprobableorimprobable.Thismeansthatadefendantcannotshowhisgoodcharacteras
evidencetoprovethathiswouldnothavesaiddefamatorythingsabouttheplaintiffandsimilarlytheplaintiffcannotshow
previousbadcharacterofthedefendantasevidencetoprovethatthedefendantmusthavesaiddefamatorythingsaboutthe
plaintiff.ThisprinciplewaslaiddowninaveryoldcaseofAttorneyGeneralvsBowman,1771.Inthiscaseamanwastried
forapenalaction,andnotforacriminalprosecution,forcarryingfalseweightsandofferingtocorruptanofficer.Hecalleda
witnesstotestifythathewasamanofgoodcharacterandconduct.Thiswasnotadmittedbythecourt.Further,asheldin
HollingtonvsHewthorn&Coltd,1943,whichisalsoknownasruleinHollingtonvsHewthron,previouscriminalconviction
cannotbegiventoshowthebadcharacterofapersoninacivilsuit.Inthiscase,anactionwasbroughtagainstthedefendant
fordamagescausedbythedefendant'snegligentdrivingofamotorcar.Thedefendanthadalsobeenprosecutedforthe
sameaccidentandconvicted.Theplaintiffsoughttogiveevidenceofthisconvictioninproofofthefactthathewasguiltyof
carelessdriving.However,theevidencewasnotacceptedasadmissiononthegroundthatconvictionbyacriminalcourtis
atbestanopinionofthatcourtthatthedefendantwasguiltyandsuchopinionisnotadmissible.
Exceptions
1.WhencharacterappearsfromotherrelevantevidenceSecondpartofSection52providesthatifafactisotherwise
relevanttothecasethentheconclusionaboutaparty'scharactermaybedrawnfromsuchfact.Anotherwiserelevantfact
cannotbeexcludedfromevidencemerelybecauseitincidentallythrowslightuponaparty'scharacter.Forexample,a
journalistisdescribedasanexploiterandhesuesfordamagesfordefamationandthedefendanttakesthedefensethat
whateverthedefendanthassaidistrue.Now,thedefendantwillhavetogiveevidencetoprovetheexploitationwhichthe
plaintiffhasbeenpracticing.Suchevidencewillalsobringtolighttherealcharacteroftheplaintiffandthecourtcantakenote
ofthis.
2.WhencharacteritselfisinissueSection54saysthatpreviousbadcharacterisnotrelevant,exceptinreply.However,
Explanation1tothissectionspecifiesthatthisruledoesnotapplywhencharacteritselfisafactinissue.Forexample,ina
divorcecaseonthegroundofcruelty,thecruelcharacterofthedefendantisafactinissueandevidencecanbegivenin
supportofthatpreviousbadcharacter.
3.DeterminationofdamagesSection55allowsthecharacteroftheplaintifftobeconsideredasrelevantfordetermining
theamountofdamagesthatheoughttoreceive.AnearlyEnglishcaseonthisaspectisofScottvsSampson,1882.Inthis
caseajournalistwassuingthedefendantforlibel.Thedefendanttriedtoshowthecharacteroftheplaintiffbutthetrialjudge
refusedtoadmitit.Uponappealforretrial,JCave,heldthattheevidenceshouldhavebeenallowedtobeadmitted.He
remarkedthatiftheplaintiffclaimsaninjurytohisreputation,thejuryshouldknowwhetherheisamanofreputationornot
beforeawardinganydamages.Ifevidenceaboutthecharacteroftheplaintiffisnotallowedthentherewillbenodifference
betweenanhonorablepersonandacheat.Avirtuouswomanwillbekeptatthesamelevelwithaprostitute.Toenableajury
toestimatethequantumofinjurysustained,theknowledgeofparty'scharacterisrelevant.
RelevancyinCriminalCases
Section53laysdownthegeneralprinciplethatincriminalproceedingsthefactthatthepersonaccusedisofagood
characterisrelevantandSection54laysdownthatthefactthattheaccusedisofabadcharacterisirrelevantincriminal
proceedings.Thus,everyaccusedisatalibertytoshowthatheisapersonofgoodcharacter.AsJCockburnhasobserved,
thefactthatamanhasunblemishedreputationleadstoapresumptionthatheisincapableofcommittingthecrimeforwhich
heisbeingtried.Ontheotherhand,theprosecutioncannotsubmitevidencetoshowbadcharacteroftheaccused.However,
asperSection54,ifapersongivesevidenceofhisgoodcharacterthentheoppositepartyisallowedtogiveevidenceofhis
badcharacterasareply.Oppositepartycannotgiveevidenceofbadcharacterinitsoriginalcase.Itcandosoonlyasa
reply.
Exceptions
1.Evidenceforbadcharactercanbegivenbytheprosecutionbutonlyasareplytotheevidenceofgoodcharacter.
2.Whencharacteritselfisinissue,evidenceofbadcharactermaybegiven.
3.Whenafactisotherwiserelevant,itcanbesubmittedevenifincidentallyrevealsthecharacteroftheaccused.
4.Theprosecutionisallowedtociteapreviousconvictionasevidenceofbadcharacteroftheaccused.Regardingthis
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provision,LordDenninghasobservedinthecaseofGoodyvsOldhamPressLtd,1967,thatpreviousconvictionsarea
classinitself.Theyaretherawmaterialuponwhichbadreputationisbuiltup.Theyhavetakenplaceinanopencourtand
areofpublicknowledge.Theyareverydifferentfrompreviousmisconductsthatarenottriedinacourtandwhichtherefore
mightleadtodispute.Butpreviousconvictionsoffernotpossibilityofsuchdisputesandsoarerelevantandadmissible.

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