Delhi High Court seeks Centre, Delhi Govt’s response on ticket scalping

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Government on a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging “illegal, manipulative and exploitive” practice of ticket scalping, wherein event tickets are resold to people at inflated prices.

The petition arises from recent music concerts featuring artists such as Coldplay, Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela has called for responses from both the Union and Delhi Governments, with the next hearing scheduled for February 18.

The plea, filed by Rohan Gupta, a photography and videography professional, aims to establish guidelines to combat ticket black marketing and bring scalping activities under legal scrutiny. Gupta’s legal counsel argued for the formation of a committee to address ticket scalping, particularly concerning Dosanjh’s upcoming “Dil-Luminati Tour” at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 26.

The petition specifically seeks clear guidelines to prevent “predatory resellers” from unlawfully engaging in ticket sales. During the hearing, Delhi Government counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi referenced Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, stating, “If the practice of illegal ticket sales is classified as a criminal offence under BNS, then guidelines cannot exceed what is already defined as an offence.”

Despite this, the court has continued to pursue the matter, emphasising the necessity of addressing ticket scalping. The petition argues that scalpers diminish event accessibility for genuine fans, allowing unscrupulous individuals to exploit high demand. It further contends that the detrimental impact of using bots and unethical methods to hoard tickets underscores the need for a robust legal framework and technological solutions to promote fair ticketing practices.

The plea aims to ensure that revenues from such practices are integrated into the legal economy, fostering a more equitable and transparent system for consumers.