Section 54 of Evidence Act "Previous bad character not relevant, except in reply"
In criminal proceedings the fact that the accused person has a bad character is irrelevant, unless evidence has been given that he has a good character, in which case it becomes relevant
Explanation 1 This section does not apply to cases in
which the bad character of any person is itself a fact in
issue.
Explanation 2- A previous conviction is relevant as evidence
of bad character.
Section 55 of Evidence Act "Character as affecting damages"
In civil cases, the fact that the character of any person
is such as to affect the amount of damages which he ought to
receive, is relevant.
Explanation In sections 52, 53, 54 and 55 the word
"character" includes both reputation and disposition; but
33[ except as provided in section 54], evidence may be given
only of general reputation and general disposition, and not
of particular acts by which reputation or disposition were
shown.