The December 14 Diljit Dosanjh concert in Chandigarh sparked controversy over the issuance of over 300 VIP passes exclusively for high court judges. The concert, held at the Sector 34 exhibition ground, featured a dedicated “Judges Lounge” in the Fan Pit Zone, providing special access for judges and their families. Police and judicial officers facilitated entry and seating for these VIP attendees, raising concerns over preferential treatment. This arrangement contrasted sharply with the lack of similar provisions at a previous concert by Karan Aujla.
Chandigarh: A special lounge established exclusively for judges at the December 14 Diljit Dosanjh concert in Chandigarh, setting a new precedent for entertainment events in the region. Over 300 VIP passes issued solely to high court judges for the concert at the Sector 34 exhibition ground, as confirmed by multiple sources within the civic and police administration.
A judicial officer assigned to oversee their entry, raising concerns about potential undue influence and unequal access at public events. This preferential treatment sharply contrasted with the arrangements for singer Karan Aujla’s concert just a week earlier, on December 7, where no such provisions were made.
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A high-ranking official noted that the December 14 event, which drew more than 35,000 attendees, included a dedicated “Judges Lounge” in the exclusive Fan Pit Zone. Tickets were distributed to judiciary members, along with their families and friends, allowing them a prime view of the performance. Additionally, an “Admin Lounge” was created for administrative officers.
A judicial officer from the Chandigarh courts was specifically assigned near the lounge to assist judges and their families in securing optimal seating.
A top source revealed,
“Most were relatives, but some judges, both serving and former, were also present,”
Reports indicate that police officials were tasked with escorting judges and ensuring they received tickets. While the general public faced significant traffic congestion and long wait times due to strict regulations, VVIPs, including judges, enjoyed direct access to the venue, bypassing the barricades set up for regular concert-goers.
It is important to note that on December 13, the Punjab and Haryana high court addressed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sector-23 resident Ranjeet Singh, which highlighted concerns about the disruptive nature of such large events, especially following the chaos during Karan Aujla’s concert.
Although the high court permitted Diljit Dosanjh’s concert, it imposed conditions on the organizers regarding noise levels. The court stipulated that if noise levels exceeded 75 decibels, penal action would be taken according to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control Rules) 2000. The administration is required to submit a compliance report to the high court on Wednesday.
Diljit Dosanjh found himself at the center of several controversies surrounding his concerts. In December 2024, his performance in Chandigarh faced criticism due to a VIP “Judges Lounge” designated for high-ranking judges and their families, raising concerns about preferential treatment for elites.
Additionally, a promotional tweet for the concert, in which he misspelled ‘Punjab’ as ‘Panjab’ and did not include the Indian tricolor emoji, led to allegations of fostering Pakistani sympathies, a claim Diljit later addressed. He also received backlash from the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which advised him against performing songs that reference alcohol and drugs.
In Bengaluru, a concert incident arose when a woman accused him of abuse related to a dispute over the Kannada language, highlighting issues with crowd management. Furthermore, the organizers of his Indore concert complied with demands from the Bajrang Dal to remove non-vegetarian food and alcohol from the event.
These incidents reflect the complicated dynamics between artists, their audiences, and societal expectations.