Union govt receives HC notice over Coldplay, Diljit Dosanjh ticket scalping issue

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Centre and three private entities following a plea seeking regulations for the resale of concert tickets. The petition highlights the rising issue of ticket scalping, particularly in light of recent concerts featuring Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan has called for responses from the respondents, including the Union ministries of information and broadcasting and electronics and information technology. The case has been tagged with an ongoing PIL concerning ticket scalping, with a hearing scheduled for February 18, 2025.

Scalping Violates Consumer Protection

The petition accuses resellers of violating the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020, by not verifying tickets sold on their platforms. It claims these platforms allow individuals with no tickets to advertise, profiting unlawfully. Additionally, these resellers lack a proper grievance redressal mechanism to protect buyers when sellers fail to deliver valid tickets.

The plea also highlights the issue of administrative fees charged by resellers. In cases where problems arise, resellers charge €25 as an "administrative fee," even when issues remain unresolved, further disadvantaging buyers.

Legislative Measures to Curb Black-Marketing

The petition draws attention to Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which was introduced to curb black-marketing and unauthorised ticket sales. Under this law, offenders face imprisonment of up to seven years and heavy fines. Previously, state laws had sought to prevent these illegal activities, but the plea argues that these measures were insufficient.

Ticket scalping, which inflates ticket prices, deprives the state of substantial tax revenue and harms innocent consumers. The plea warns that such practices have created a shadow economy, impacting public services and infrastructure.

Petition Calls for Comprehensive Legal Framework

The petition calls for a comprehensive legal framework, technological solutions, and stricter enforcement to regulate the ticket resale market. The primary goal is to ensure consumer protection, promote fair ticketing practices, and channel revenue from ticket sales into the formal economy. The plea emphasises that effective regulation is crucial to mitigate the negative impacts of ticket scalping on both consumers and the state.