Which one of the following provisions of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 provides that previous…

Section 49 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (formerly section 54 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872) makes an accused’s previous bad character generally irrelevant in criminal proceedings unless evidence of good character has been given, in which event it becomes relevant in reply. Its own explanations also preserve cases where bad character is itself in issue and treat a previous conviction as evidence of bad character. Section 46 concerns character in civil cases; section 47 good character in criminal cases; section 124 witness competence.