In civil cases character to prove conduct imputed, irrelevant.

What this section does

In civil cases, evidence of a person's character is not relevant merely to show that such character makes the conduct alleged more or less probable. Character evidence in civil proceedings is admissible only when it emerges from facts that are otherwise independently relevant.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

The rule in one line

Character is irrelevant in civil cases to infer probable conduct, unless the character itself appears from otherwise relevant facts.

When it applies

• In a civil suit for negligence, the defendant's general reputation for carelessness cannot be introduced solely to suggest he probably acted carelessly on the occasion in question.
• If a party's past conduct is independently relevant (e.g., as part of a course of dealing), character evidence arising from those facts may be admitted.

Derived from IEA s.52.