Delhi HC issues notice on PIL moved against ticket scalping practices

New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) against the practice of “ticket scalping,” which involves reselling event tickets at inflated prices. The plea, prompted by recent concerts featuring various artists, was brought forth by Rohan Gupta.

The division bench, led by Chief Justice Manmohan, acknowledged the petition, which calls for the establishment of guidelines to combat the black marketing of tickets.

It also seeks to bring ticket scalping under legal regulation. Additionally, the petition requests the formation of a committee to investigate this practice, particularly in relation to Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming “Dil-Luminati Tour,” scheduled for October 26 at JLN Stadium.

The court issued notice to the Centre, Delhi Government, and several ticket selling portals and listed the matter for February 18, 2025.

Meanwhile, Advocate Santosh Kumar Tripathi, representing the Delhi Government, informed the court that the grievances raised in the PIL are already addressed under BNS 112, making the need for further guidelines unnecessary.

A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the illegal practice of ticket scalping, where event tickets are resold at inflated prices for profit, harming the general public. This action comes ahead of an upcoming concert by singer Diljit Dosanjh.

The PIL, submitted by Rohan Gupta through advocates Jatin Yadav, Daksh Gupta, Gaurav Dua, and Saurabh Dua, is set for hearing before the Chief Justice on Wednesday.

The petition outlines a timeline of events, noting that Karan Aujla announced 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 an advisory declaring tickets bought through platforms like STUBHUB INDIA, VIAGOGO, and TICOMBO as invalid. Additionally, tickets for a “Coldplay” concert went on sale on September 22, with more events planned for October.

The petition stated that unethical ticket scalping practices limit access for genuine fans and enable opportunistic resellers to exploit high demand. It highlights how scalping distorts fair market principles, often using bots to purchase tickets before legitimate buyers can compete.

Such practices undermine the essence of community events meant to foster cultural appreciation, turning them into exclusive experiences for those who can afford inflated prices. This disparity exacerbates socioeconomic divides and erodes fairness in access to entertainment.

The petition also claims that scalping contributes to a black market for counterfeit tickets, further victimising consumers. Additionally, it argues that these transactions, often unregulated, evade the official tax system, resulting in lost government revenue. This situation fosters a shadow economy that deprives the state of funds that could support public services and infrastructure.

The petitioner calls for a comprehensive legal framework, effective enforcement, and technological solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of ticket scalping. The goal is to promote fair ticketing practices, ensure consumer protection, and integrate revenue from ticket sales into the formal economy.