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RoleofCharacterinEvidenceLaw

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Published:March05,2011|Author:saarth1989
Category:Criminallaw|TotalViews:8217|Unrated

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Character:
As per Webster, "character is a combination of the peculiar qualities impressed by
natureorbyhabitoftheperson,whichdistinguishhimfromothers".Charactermeans
thecollectivequalitiesorcharacteristicsespeciallymentalandmoral,thatdistinguisha
personorthing.Characteristheestimationofapersonbyhiscommunity.
The word character' includes both reputation and disposition." Character lies in the
manitisthemarkofwhatheis.

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Reputation:
Webster defines "reputation" to be good name the credit, honour or character which is derived from a favourable
public opinion or esteem, and character by report. Reputation is the common or general estimate of a person with
respecttocharacterorotherqualities.
Woodroffestatesthat"Reputationmeanswhatisthoughtofapersonby
othersandisconstitutedbypublicopinion.Itisthegeneralcreditwhich
amanhasobtainedinthatopinion."
Reputationandcharacterarenotsynonymousterms.Characteriswhat
a man or a woman is morally while reputation is what he or she is
reputedtobei.e.reputationistheestimatewhichthecommunityhasof
thepersonscharacter.
Disposition:
Disposition is a natural tendency, an inclination a persons
temperament. It is the prevailing spirit of mind, resulting from
constitution.Itistheaptitudeortendencyofcharacter.

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The word 'disposition' is used to give the meaning a tendency to act,

think or feel in a particular way. Character certificate given by the
employerorcharactercertificategivenbytheHeadsoftheEducational
Institutions are the good examples of 'Disposition'. 'Disposition'
comprehendsorspringsandmotivesofaction.Itisapermanent,settledandrespectsthewholeframeandtextureof
themind.
`Thedispositionistheprevailingspiritofmind,resultingfromconstitution.Itistheaptitudeortendencyofcharacter.
Characterisoftenusedinthesenseofthesocialestimateformedofaman,hisreputationforgoodorbad.
Thedistinctionbetweenreputationanddispositionis:
i)Reputationmeansthegeneralcreditofthepersonamongthepublicbutdispositionmeanstheinherentqualitiesofa
person.

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ii)Reputationiswhatotherpeoplethinkabouthimwhiledispositioniswhatheisinreality.
iii)Amanmaybereputedtobeagoodmanbutinrealityhemayhaveabaddisposition.
iv)Generalreputationisasortofcommonadjectivetoall,whiledispositionofamanmaydependuponmanytraits,
somegoodandsomebad.

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Ascharacterincludesbothreputationaswellasdisposition,charactermeansthegeneralcreditofthepersoninthe
estimationofothersplusthenatureandinherentqualitiesofaperson.Butdispositionofapersoncanbeknownonly
tothosepersonswhoareclosertohim.Apersonmayhaveveryhighreputationbuthisdispositionmaybeverybad.

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"Characterisacombinationofqualitydistinguishingaperson,theindividualityofwhichistheproductofnature,habits
and environment." "Is a man honest, is he goodnatured, is he of violent temper, is he modest and retiring or
imprudentforwardTheseallconstitutetraitsofcharacter."

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Although strictly speaking character is to be distinguished from reputation, yet reputation is more commonly
consideredashavingreferencetothedispositionsorcharacterofaperson.Thusitissaidofapersonthathebearsa
goodreputationmeaningthatthepersoninquestionhasreputationforbeingapersonofgoodcharacter.

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ADMISSIBILITYOFCHARACTEREVIDENCEINCIVILSUITSININDIANLAW
Incivilaction,asageneralrule,evidenceofcharacterofanypersonconcerned(apartytoasuit)isnotadmissiblefor

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RoleofCharacterinEvidenceLaw
the purpose of raising an inference as to his conduct. In other words, that a party did or did not act may not be
establishedincivilactions,byshowingthathischaracterissuchastopredisposehimtoonecourseortotheother.So
theexclusionofevidenceofacharacterofapartyasabasisofinferenceastohisconductispracticallyabsolutein
civilcases.Incivilcasestheevidenceofcharacterisgenerallyinadmissibleunlessthecharacterisofthesubstancein
issue.
UnderSection52theexpression'thecharacterofanypersonconcerned'isused.Therefore,itmayappeartoinclude
personswhoarecalledaswitnesses,butthecontentofthesectionrefers,onlytothepartiesoftheproceedings.
Characteradmissibleincivilcases:
Therearecertaincasesinwhichcharacterisafactinissueorarelevantfacte.g.inasuitforlibel,ifthelibelconsisted
inattributingbadqualitiestotheplaintiffandthedefendantjusticestheexistenceofthesequalities,theexistenceof
thesequalitieswouldbeafactinissueandevidenceofcharactermaybeled.Thecharacterofafemalechastityhas
beenreceivedinevidenceinactionforbreachofpromiseformarriage.
Best states that "To admit character evidence in every case, or to reject it in every case, would be equally fatal to
justicethattodrawalineortodefinewithprecisionwhereitoughttobereceivedandwhereitoughttoberejected,is
asembarrassingaproblemasanyLegislaturecanbecalledupontosolve."
InAbdulShakurandothersv.KotwaleshwarPrasadandothers,ithasbeenheldthatwherethecontentionthatcertain
pronotes had been obtained from the insolvent while he was under the influence of drink, has been found to be
baseless, mere general bad character of the insolvent would be quite irrelevant in a civil case to prove want of
consideration.
ADMISSIBILITYOFCHARACTEREVIDENCEINCIVILSUITSINBRITISHLAW
DefendantGoodCharacterinCivilCases
Generally speaking, the good character of a party to civil proceedings, whether defendant or claimant, is not
admissible, unlike the normal situation with regard to defendants in criminal cases. As Baron Martin noted in AG v
Radcliff,in most cases, no presumption would arise: . . . from the good character of the defendant, that he did not
committhebreachofcontractorofcivildutyallegedagainsthim.Ofcourse,ifapartytolitigationhashiscredibility
attacked by unwarranted aspersions on his character, he can call evidence of his good character to rebut the
allegation.
DefendantBadCharacterinCivilCases
Adefendantscharactercanbeattackedincivilproceedingswithaviewtoundermininghiscredit,justlikethatofany
otherwitness.Thereisnospecialregimefordefendantsinciviltrials,unlikethesituationthatgovernstheaccusedin
criminal proceedings. Thus, for example, a defendant with previous convictions can have them put to him in cross
examination.
Perhapsmoresignificantly,pastmisconductcanbeindicativeofpresentbehaviourincivilaswellascriminalmatters
andthuscanbeusedtoestablishpropensityunderthecommonlawsimilarfactdoctrine.Thelegaluseofthistypeof
evidence was neglected in civil cases, at least when compared to the extensive jurisprudence on its criminal
counterpart.Itwasonlyrarelymentionedinjudgements,andthenoftenbyreferencetocriminalcaselawonthetopic.
Ironically,however,giventheabolitionofthesimilarfactdoctrineincriminaltrialsunders.99(1)oftheCJA2003,itis
onlyincivilcasesthatitwillbeencounteredinfuture.Anumberofcases,stretchingbackoveracentury,areindicative
ofthedoctrineatwork.Thus,inHalesvKerr,evidencefromabarberscustomersthatthey,too,hadbecomeinfected
withringworm,afterhavingbeencutandbandagedbythedefendantintherecentpast,wasadmittedtosupportthe
plaintiffsclaimtohavingbeennegligentlyinfectedinasimilarfashion.
Itsuggestedthatthedefendanthadanunhygienicsystemofwork.
In Mood Music publishing Company v. De Wolfe Ltd., Lord Denning derived a Two stage test to determine the
admissibilityofevidence.
Thefollowingquestionsweretobeascertainedbeforeadmittingtheevidence
i)WhethertheevidenceprovidedwasrelevantwiththeFactinIssue?
ii)Whethersuchevidenceshouldbeadmissibleornot?
ThistestwasrevisitedincaseofOBrienvChiefConstableoftheSouthWalesPolice.Inpracticalapplicationofthis
testtheriskofprejudiceislikelytobefarmoreacutethaninthevastmajorityofcaseswherethematterispresided
overbyaprofessionaljudge,whoisexperiencedinputtingasideirrationalprejudice.
Thismightbeparticularlyimportantwheretheextrinsicevidenceisofascandalousnatureforexample,theprevious
misconductcitedconsistsofallegationsofwhatwouldamounttoseriouscrimesifproved.
Additionally, the risk of excessively prolonging and distorting the litigation process will also vary enormously, and
needstobeweighedupagainsttheprobativevalueoftheevidenceandanyothercasespecificfactors.
InthelightofOBrien,itmightbearguedthat,despitethetermstillbeinginuse,thereis,inreality,nolongeraspecial
doctrine of similar fact evidence in civil cases. Many of the conclusions reached in the case are explicable by other
evidentialprinciples,suchassimplerelevanceorasaresponsetotheCivilProcedureRules.However,thiswouldbe
an exaggeration, as there is still a residual discretion to reject such evidence simply because it might occasion
reasoningormoralprejudice,ratherthanforanyotherreasonthisisahallmarkofthesimilarfactdoctrineatcommon
law.Nevertheless, this is likely to be exercised only rarely, jury trials, perhaps, apart. In the light of Lord Binghams
observationinOBrien,thatsimilarfactevidencecanbeveryimportant,evendecisiveincivilcasesotherlitigantsmay
beencouragedtoadducesuchevidenceinfuture.Againstthis,thecasemayalso remind the courts that a general
exclusionaryrulemeansthatevidenceofextrinsicdefendantmisconductshouldnotbeabducedinformally.
ADMISSIBILITYOFCHARACTEREVIDENCEINCRIMINALSUITSININDIANLAW
Incriminalproceedings,previousgoodcharacterisrelevant:
Incriminalproceedings,thefactthatthepersonaccusedisofagoodcharacter,isrelevant."Incriminalenquiriesthe
relevancyofcharacterevidenceisdifferentfromcivilcases.
Incriminalcases,theaccusedisallowedtoprovehisgoodcharacter,eitherinchieforbycrossexamination.Butso
farasconcernsproofoftheaccused'sgoodcharacterbyanotherwitness,whatmustbedeposedtois,notparticular
good acts by him, but his general reputation in the community. Strictly the witnesss own opinion of his character is
irrelevant,butinparticularconsiderablelatitudeisallowedandawitnessisoftenaskedtosaywhatheknows of the
accused'scharacter.Theevidenceofcharacterisprimarilyrelevantastocredibilityi.e.itmakeshistestimonymore
worthyofbelief.

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Good character in criminal cases is a weak evidence. However, in certain cases, good character may become
favourableevidenceinfavourofanaccusedindoubtfulcasesandwheretheprosecutionfailstoprovetheguiltofthe
accusedbeyondthereasonabledoubts.Goodcharacterpresumablyincludesgoodreputationwhichamanmaybein
hisowncircleaswell.ashisrealdispositionasdistinctfromwhathisfriendsandneighboursmaythinkofhim.
Whentheaccusedinabriberycasepleadsandproducesevidencesofgoodcharacter,which the Court regards as
satisfactory,itmustbetakeninconsiderationtodecidewhethertheguiltisprovedbeyondreasonabledoubtPhipson
states that "Good character is not a defence, for no one would then be convicted, as everyone starts with a good
character.Thedefendantis,however,entitledtorelyonthefactthatheisofpreviousgoodcharacterasmakingitless
likelythathewouldhavecommittedtheoffence.Ifthereisanyroomofdoubt,hisgoodcharactermaybethrowninthe
scalesinhisfavour."
InHabeebMohammadv.StateofHyderabad,[AIRl954SC51]ithasbeenheldthatincriminalproceedingsaman's
characterisoftenamatterofimportanceinexplaininghisconductandinjudginghisinnocenceorcriminality.Many
actsofanaccusedpersonwouldbesuspiciousorfreefromallsuspicionswhenthecharacterofthepersonbywhom
theyaredoneisknown.Evenonthequestionofpunishment,anaccusedisallowedtoprovegeneralgoodcharacter.
Barontheproofofpreviousbadcharacterincriminalproceedings:
The general evidence of good character of the accused is always relevant. This is not so with regard to general
evidenceofbadcharacter.Incriminalproceedingthefactthattheaccusedpersonhasabadcharacterisirrelevant
andcannotbeproved.Thereasonisthattheprosecutionmustprovetheguiltofaccusedwiththenecessaryevidence
insupportofthecharge.Buttheprosecutioncannottakethehelpofbadcharacteroftheaccusedinordertoestablish
itscase.lftheprosecutionisallowedtoprovebadcharacteroftheaccused,thenthatwouldprejudicethemindofthe
Court.ItmakestheCourtbiasedagainsttheaccused.ifevidenceofbadcharacteroftheaccusedispermittedt0be
proved the Court may come to the conclusion that he has committed the offence in question. Therefore, this would
prejudice the fair trial to which the accused is entitled. However, there are three exceptions to the rule of the
irrelevanceofbadcharacterincriminalcases.
Thefirstexception:Thepreviousbadcharacterisrelevantinreply,iftheevidencehasbeengiventhathehasgood
character. In Indian system of Law, an accused starts with a presumption of innocence his bad character is not
relevant,unlesshegivesevidenceofgoodcharacterinwhichcase,bywayofrebuttal,evidenceofbadcharactermay
be adduced. The prosecution gets the right to prove the bad character of the accused. In cases of defamation,
maliciousprosecutionetc.,thequestionofreputationistobeconsidered.Insuchcases,thebadcharacteroftheparty
maybeadducedasevidence.
Thesecondexception:Theevidenceofbadcharactercanbeprovedincasesinwhichthebadcharacterisinissue.
In case of binding over proceedings for keeping good behaviour under Sections 109, and 110, Cr.P.C. and in
proceedingsfortheoffenceofdacoityunderSections400,401,IndianPenalCode.thebadcharacteroftheperson
involvedwouldbeafactinissue.UnderSection110,Cr.P.C..apersonistobebounddownifheisbyhabitarobber.
a housebreaker or is so desperate and dangerous as to render his being at large hazardous. In an Inquiry under
Section110Cr.P.C.theverycharacteroftheaccusedisinquestionandsotheevidencetothateffectisadmissible.
Theevidencethattheaccusedhadcommittedsimilarcriminalactspreviouslyisadmissibleupontheissuetodecide
whether the act was intentional or accidental. If the evidence of bad character is introduced in order to establish a
relevantfactwhichcannotbeprovedseparatelytheevidenceofbadcharacterisadmissible.
InPublicProsecutorAPHCv.BandanaRamayya,[2004Cr.L.J.3510(AP)]ithasbeenheldthatinarapecase,where
the medical evidence clearly points out that there was a forcible intercourse, the bad character of the prosecutrix
becomesirrelevant.Ifthebadcharacterisitselfafactinissue,onlythenevidencecanbeplaced.
The third exception: A previous conviction is not admissible in evidence against the accused, except where he is
liable to enhanced punishment under Section 75 of the Indian Penal Code, on account of previous conviction, or
unlessevidenceofgoodcharacterbegiven,inwhichcasethefactthattheaccusedhadbeenpreviouslyconvictedof
anoffenceisadmissibleasevidenceofbadcharacter.
UnderSection75oftheIPC,apersonwhohasbeenpreviouslyconvictedbyaCourtofanoffencepunishableunder
ChapterXIIorChapterXVIIoftheIPCwithanimprisonmentofthreeyearsormore,isliableforenhancedpunishment
if he had, again committed an offence under those chapters subsequently. may be proved as evidence of bad
character
Inre:Kamya,ithasbeenheldthatonlyafterconvictionoftheaccused,thechargeforthepreviousconvictionhasto
beframedforgivingenhancedpunishment.Insuchcase,theprosecutionhastoprovethepreviousconvictionofthe
accused. The trial judge may, at his discretion, proceed or refrain from proceeding, with the trial on the charge of
previousconviction.
ADMISSIBILITYOFCHARACTEREVIDENCEINCRIMINALSUITSINBRITISHLAW
Adefendantcancallevidencetoestablishhisgoodcharacter.*ismaybegivenduringexaminationinchiefbythe
defendant in person, by one of his witnesses, or be elicited from a prosecution witness on his behalf during cross
examination.InBritishlawonlyReputationiscountedinCharacterandnotDisposition.
InR.v.JamesRowtantheaccusedwastriedforcommittinganindecentassaultonaboyof14yearsandatthetrial
he gave evidence of his good character. In order to rebut the evidence of good character the prosecution called a
witness and asked "what is the accuseds general character for decency and morality? He said, "I do not know the
opinionofmyneighboursbutinmyopinionandtheopinionofmybrotherswhowerealsohispupilsthatheisaperson
capableofthegrossestindecencyandflagrantimmorality.Thecourtsaid,thisisevidenceofdisposition,notevidence,
ofreputationandthereforeinadmissible.
InRvRedgrave,thedefendantwasaccusedofanoffenceofgrossindecencyinapubliclavatory(i.eahomosexual
offence).Athisfirsttrialhewasallowedtoadducecardsandlettersfromvariousgirlfriends,tosuggestthathewasnot
homosexualandthuswasnotlikelytohavecommittedtheoffenceofwhichhewasaccused.(Forevidentialpurposes,
ifnoother,thesemustbeconsideredanalogoustospecificcreditableincidents.)*istrialproducedahungjury,anda
retrialwasordered.The(different)judgepresidingatthesecondtrialdidnotallowevidenceofthecorrespondenceto
begivenandthedefendantwasconvicted.Thedefendantappealedonthebasisthatitwaswrongforsuchevidence
to have been excluded. Dismissing his appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision in Rowton forbidding the
adductionofevidenceofspecificincidents.
Defendantsbadcharacterincriminalsuits.
Prior to the advent of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the adduction of defendant bad character evidence in criminal
cases was governed by a complicated mixture of common law principles and statute. Thus, evidence adduced to
suggestguiltviapropensitywaslargelyruledbythecommonlawsimilarfactdoctrine.Evidencethatwasproducedto
underminedefendantcreditwasprimarilyregulatedby s. 1(3) of the 1898 Evidence Act (supplemented by common

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RoleofCharacterinEvidenceLaw
lawprovisions).
Oneofthemainaimsofthe2003Actwastoputalloftherulesgoverningbadcharacterincriminalcases,whetherfor
defendants, witnesses or third parties, and whether going to credit or directly to the issue in a case, into a single
statute. However, there were other concerns about the old regime, several of which were explored in the Law
Commissionreport,EvidenceofBadCharacterinCriminalProceedingswhich(inpart)promptedthestatutoryreforms.
Section101oftheCriminalJusticeAct2003,Defendantsbadcharacter
Incriminalproceedingsevidenceofthedefendantsbadcharacterisadmissible(1)if,butonlyif
(a)allpartiestotheproceedingsagreetotheevidencebeingadmissible,
(b) the evidence is adduced by the defendant himself or is given in answer to a question asked by him in cross
examinationandintendedtoelicitit,
(c)itisimportantexplanatoryevidence,
(d)itisrelevanttoanimportantmatterinissuebetweenthedefendantandtheprosecution,
(e) it has substantial probative value in relation to an important matter in issue between the defendant and a co
defendant,
(f)itisevidencetocorrectafalseimpressiongivenbythedefendant,or
(g)thedefendanthasmadeanattackonanotherpersonscharacter.
Under s. 101(1)(a) defendant bad character evidence can be admitted with the agreement of all parties to the
proceedings. For practical purposes, in most situations, this will be contingent on the accused person wishing to
adduceit,although,presumably,theremightbeexceptionalcircumstancesinwhichacoaccusedmightobjecttoits
admission. Nevertheless, a defendant could then have recourse to s. 101(1)(b), which allows him to adduce such
evidenceinpersonorviaananswertoaquestionaskedbyhimincrossexaminationandintendedtoelicitit.
Section 101(1)(c), in part, replicates a specialist provision that previously existed at common law. It allows the
adductionofadefendantspreviousmisconductifitisimportantexplanatoryevidence.Guidanceonwhatismeantby
thisisgivenins.102,whichprovidesthatitcanbeadmittedif,withoutit,thejuryorcourtwouldfinditimpossibleor
difficultproperlytounderstand other evidence in the case and (rather superfluously) its value for understandingthe
caseasawholeissubstantial.
R v Beverley , the defendant was accused of participating in a conspiracy to import cocaine. He had two previous
convictions.Oneofthese,frommorethanfiveyearsearlier,wasforpossessionofcannabiswithintenttosupply,and
onewasfromtwoyearspreviously,forsimplepossessionofcannabis.Thesewereadducedattrialunders.101(1)(d),
asshowingapropensitytocommitthetypeofoffencewithwhichhewascharged.However,onappeal,theconviction
was quashed, on the basis that one of the convictions was old, and one was of a different character (simple
possession), that they involved a different type of drug, and related to offences of a vastly lesser degree of
seriousness,bothinsizeandcomplexity,tothelargescaleconspiracychargedintheinstantcase.
Although,asthesecasessuggest,mostsituationswhereevidenceisadducedunders.101(1)(d)willrequireeitheran
unusualoffenceoronecommittedinanunusualmanner,or,alternatively,severalpreviousoffences,inexceptional
casesthiswillnotbeso.
Forexample,inRvIsichei,adefendantssingleconvictionforimportingcocainesomesixyearsearlierwasadmitted
under s. 101(1)(d), as it was adduced not to suggest a propensity to commit such offences, but to support the
identificationofacomplainantinanassaultoccasioning ABH and robbery indictment, who had heard the defendant
demandingmoneyforcoke.
Adefendantsbadcharactercanbeadducedunders.101(1)(e)ifithassubstantialprobativevalueinrelationtoan
importantmatterinissuebetweenthedefendantandacodefendant.
InIbrahimMusonevTheCrown,itwasheldthatwheretwoprisoninmateswereaccusedofmurderingathirdprisoner
inhiscellwithaknife,andwererunningcutthroatdefences(blamingeachotherforthecrime),oneofthedefendants
wasallowedtoadduceevidenceofanearliermurder,allegedlyperpetratedbyhiscoaccused,tosuggestthatitwas
morelikelythathe(thecoaccused)hadindictedthefatalwound.Thiswasbecausetheearlierkillingwasconsidered
tohavesubstantialprobativevaluewithregardtoanimportantmatterinissuebetweenthetwocodefendants(i.ewho
wasmorelikelytobeviolentlyhomicidal),andsowasadmissibleunders.101(1)(e).
Unders.101(1)(f)evidenceofadefendantsbadcharactercanbeadducedtocorrectafalseimpressiongivenbythe
defendant.ThisselectivenessabouttheadductionofpastcrimescanbeseeninRvCampbell,wherethedefendant,
accusedofassaultinghisgirlfriend,hadnumerouspreviousconvictions,foravarietyofoffences,includingviolence,
dishonesty and criminal damage, reaching back over 20 years. However, at trial, only two previous and recent
convictionsforassaultingformerorcurrentgirlfriendswereadmitted,pursuanttos.101(1)(d),beingadducedonthe
issueofthedefendantspropensitytouseviolencetowardswomen.
Section 101(1)(g) deals with those situations in which the defendant has made an attack on another persons
character.Section101(1)(g)willnotinvariablybeappliedwheretherehas,technically,beensomekindofattack.Rv
Nelson . In this case, the defendant, while being questioned by the police on an affray charge, had stated that his
neighbour was a liar and a user of class A drugs. As it transpired, the neighbour did not give evidence at the
defendants trial. However, the first instance judge held that there had been an attack on the character of another,
whichfellwithinthetermsofs.106(1)(g)oftheAct.Asaresult,theaccusedmanspreviousdrugsconvictionswere
adduced.
CONCLUSION
The general rule is that character evidence is inadmissible. Since it is very difficult to assess the character of the
person,evidenceofcharacterisrenderedinadmissible.ItissaidthatitisonlyGod,theangelsandthepersonhimself
knowanythingaboutthecharacterofaman.
GOODCHARACTEROFTHEACCUSED
Theaccusedwillberegardedasapersonofgoodcharacterifevidenceisadductedorelicitedtoshowthathehasno
previousconvictionsornoconvictionsofanyrelevanceorsignificance.Apreviouscharacterwhethergoodorbadwill
beanindicatorastothepresentconductoftheperson.Itcanaffectthewayawitnessstestimonyisviewed,i.egoto
credit.Incivilcasescharacterevidenceisinadmissibleunlessthecharacterevidenceisitselfinissue.Theevidenceis
excludedfromcivilproceedingsongroundsofpublicpolicy.Duetothefollowingreasonsgoodcharacterevidenceis
notadmissibleincivilproceedings.
i)Evidenceofunconnectedcircumstanceswillprejudicetheparty
ii)Thepartywouldnothaveanopportunitytodefendeffectivelyashewouldbeunsureaboutwhatpartofhiscareer
wouldbeattacked.
The accused having a good character is entitled to the benefit of the Vye direction consisting where relevant of a

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RoleofCharacterinEvidenceLaw
propensitylimbandcredibilitylimb.
Defendants in criminal cases with good characters are always entitled to the second limb of the Vye direction on
propensity.
Defendantsincriminalcaseswithgoodcharacterswhogiveevidencearealsoalwaysentitledtoafirstlimbcredibility
direction.
Occasionally, blemished defendants without previous convictions who admit to offences, or those with previous
convictions that are minor or distant, may be refused or granted good character directions, depending on the
circumstancesofthecase.
BADCHARACTEROFTHEACCUSED
According to the Indian laws in criminal proceedings the evidence of bad character of the accused is irrelevant and
cannotbeproved.Buttheprosecutioncannottakethehelpofbadcharacteroftheaccusedinordertoestablishits
case.Ifevidenceofbadcharacterofaccusedispermittedtobeprovedthecourtmaycometotheconclusionthathe
has committed the offence in question. Therefore this would prejudice the fair trial to which the accused is entitled.
Howevertherearethreeexceptionstothisrule
i)Whentheaccusedgivesevidenceofgoodcharacterthentheprosecutionhasarighttoprovethebadcharacterof
theaccused.
ii)Theprosecutionhasarighttoprovethebadcharacterincasesinwhichthebadcharacterisitselfinissue.
iii)Apreviousconvictionisrelevantasevidenceofbadcharacteroftheaccused.
DefendantbadcharacterincriminalcasesisnowalmostentirelyregulatedbyPart11oftheCriminalJusticeAct2003,
ands.101inparticular.Badcharacterusuallyconsistsofconvictions,butcanextendtootherareasofreprehensible
conductinanindividualslife.
Evidence of the accuseds bad character is inadmissible unless it falls within the scope of one of the gateways to
admissibilityinsection101(1)(ag)oftheAct.Whenevertheprosecution(butnotacodefendant)attemptstoadduce
suchevidenceunders.101(1)
atrialjudgehasadiscretiontorefusetoadmitit,whetherfromtheActitselforasaresultofs.78ofthePoliceand
CriminalEvidenceAct1984,evenifoneofthegatewaysis,primafacie,satisfied.Thesimilarfactdoctrinedeveloped
atcommonlawsurvivesincivilcases,despitebeingabolishedincriminaltrials.Suchevidenceappearstorequireless
probativeforcethatwasformerlythecaseincriminalhearingstobeadmittedincivilforums.However,thecourtcan
haveregardtoawiderrangeofpolicyfactorsthanwasthecaseincriminaltrialswhendecidingwhethertoexclude
suchevidence.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
#KrishnamachariV.LawofEvidence.(Hyderabad:S.Gogia&Company)2009
#Dr.V.Krishnamachari,LawofEvidence,(Hyderabad:S.Gogia&Company)2009p325
#AIR1958All.54
#(1854)10Exch84
#RaymondEmson,evidence,(PalgraveMacmillan)4thEditionp39
#[1908]2KB201
#[1976]1AllER763
#[2005]2WLR1038
#[2005]2WLR1038
#[2005]2WLR1038
#[AIRl954SC51]
#[2004Cr.L.J.3510(AP)]
#[AIR1960AP490]
#(1865)10Cox.Cr.C.25
#(1981)74CrAppRep10
#[2006]CrimLR1065
#[2006]EWCA1815
#[2007]EWCA1237
#[2007]2CrAppR28
#[2007]CrimLR709
Theauthorcanbereachedat:nirma@legalserviceindia.com

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