The Bombay High Court Today (Jan 10) dismissed a PIL seeking stricter measures to combat ticket scalping and black marketing, an issue highlighted by the controversy surrounding Coldplay concert tickets. Filed by lawyer Amit Vyas, the plea alleged unfair practices like bot-based bulk buying, inflated resale prices, and potential organizer involvement. The Court directed Vyas to approach the State government for policy solutions, while platforms like BookMyShow face public backlash over mishandled ticket sales.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stricter rules to prevent black marketing and scalping of tickets for major events, a concern that gained attention during the Coldplay concert ticket controversy. The PIL was filed by Amit Vyas, a lawyer and founder-partner at Vertices Partners, highlighting unethical ticketing practices, especially those amplified by technological advancements.
The case was heard by a Bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, who concluded that the matter involved policymaking and legislation, which are responsibilities of the executive and legislature. The Court noted,
“You are inviting us to enter into the policymaking domain. You are also asking us to begin a regulatory measure. We will ask the State to consider grievances. We have our own well-defined ambit.”
During the hearing, the Court suggested Vyas take his concerns to the State government, as policymaking falls within its jurisdiction. When dismissing the plea, the Bench clarified that Vyas is free to approach the appropriate State authorities to address his concerns.
The PIL highlighted serious issues, particularly involving bots that automate ticket purchases. These bots enable scalpers to buy large quantities of tickets in seconds, using multiple identities and IP addresses to bypass restrictions. Some scalpers even deploy “botnets” — networks of compromised computers — to execute bulk transactions. This makes it extremely difficult for genuine fans to purchase tickets at fair prices.
The issue became highly prominent during the sale of tickets for Coldplay concerts scheduled for January 18, 19, and 21, 2025, in Mumbai. When tickets went live on September 22, 2024, on BookMyShow, they sold out within 30 minutes. Many users complained about being logged out of the platform before the sale even began, while tickets quickly appeared on resale platforms like Viagogo at prices inflated by 30 to 40 times the original cost.
Vyas raised concerns about the possible involvement of event organizers, such as BookMyShow and Live Nation, in facilitating ticket resales through secondary market agents. He alleged that such practices exploit fans, urging the Court to intervene. He also filed a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, claiming that the involved parties were not cooperating with the investigation.
However, the Court reassured that law enforcement agencies are capable of handling such issues without requiring third-party cooperation.
BookMyShow, responding to public backlash, filed an FIR against unknown individuals and is reportedly considering cancelling tickets purchased through unethical methods.
The PIL argued that ticket scalping violates consumer protection laws and fundamental rights, including the right to equality and access to public entertainment. It also pointed out the adverse impact on government revenue.
“Botnets and ticket scalping not only harm fans but also rob the government of its rightful share of revenue,”
-Vyas emphasized.
To address these concerns, the petition called for clear guidelines to prevent ticket scalping and suggested the creation of robust laws to tackle the issue. It also proposed forming an expert committee, headed by a retired judge and including a cyber expert, to study and recommend solutions for regulating online ticket sales.
While the Court dismissed the PIL, it left the door open for Vyas to seek remedies through appropriate State authorities, emphasizing that the judiciary’s role is distinct from policymaking.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Coldplay
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
