Today, On 9th October, Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the practice of “ticket scalping,” where event tickets are resold at inflated prices. The plea filed by Rohan Gupta, citing recent concerts by Coldplay, Diljit Dosanjh, and Karan Aujla as examples. The petition raises concerns about unfair pricing and the exploitation of consumers. The court has sought responses from the relevant authorities regarding the issue.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court issued a notice on Wednesday in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the practice of “ticket scalping,” where event tickets are resold at inflated prices.
The petition, filed by Rohan Gupta, was prompted by recent concerts featuring various artists.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Manmohan, took note of the plea, which calls for the introduction of guidelines to curb black market ticket sales and bring scalping under legal regulation.
The petition also requests the formation of a committee to investigate this issue, particularly regarding Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming “Dil-Luminati Tour” set for October 26 at JLN Stadium.
The court issued notices to the Centre, Delhi Government, and several ticketing platforms, scheduling the next hearing for February 18, 2025. Advocate Santosh Kumar Tripathi, representing the Delhi Government, argued that the concerns raised in the PIL are already covered under BNS 112, negating the need for additional guidelines.
A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court, challenging the illegal practice of ticket scalping, where event tickets are resold at significantly inflated prices for profit, disadvantaging the general public. The action comes ahead of singer Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming concert.
The PIL, filed by Rohan Gupta through advocates Jatin Yadav, Daksh Gupta, Gaurav Dua, and Saurabh Dua, scheduled for a hearing before the Chief Justice on Wednesday.
The petition details a sequence of events, beginning with Karan Aujla announcing his concert dates for July 2024, followed by Diljit Dosanjh’s tour announcement in August and September. Pre-sale tickets for Dosanjh’s concert became available on September 10 for HDFC Bank Pixel cardholders, with general sales starting on September 12. On September 16, Zomato Limited issued a public advisory warning that tickets purchased from platforms such as STUBHUB INDIA, VIAGOGO, and TICOMBO would be deemed invalid.
Additionally, tickets for the “Coldplay” concert went on sale on September 22, with more events planned for October.
The petition argues that unethical ticket scalping practices limit genuine fans’ access to events while allowing opportunistic resellers to profit from high demand. It emphasizes how scalping distorts fair market principles, often using bots to buy tickets before legitimate buyers have a chance.
This practice undermines the spirit of community events intended to foster cultural engagement, transforming them into exclusive experiences for those able to pay exorbitant prices.
The resulting disparity worsens socioeconomic divides and erodes fairness in access to entertainment.
The petition also highlights how scalping contributes to a black market for counterfeit tickets, further exploiting consumers. Moreover, it claims these unregulated transactions often bypass the official tax system, leading to lost government revenue. This creates a shadow economy that deprives the state of funds that could be used for public services and infrastructure.
The petitioner calls for the creation of a comprehensive legal framework, stronger enforcement measures, and technological solutions to mitigate the negative effects of ticket scalping. The overall goal is to promote fair ticketing practices, ensure consumer protection, and ensure that revenue from ticket sales is integrated into the formal economy.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
