The Bombay High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) calling for stricter regulations to curb ticket scalping and the black marketing of online tickets for major events. The PIL was prompted by concerns surrounding the sale of tickets for a Coldplay concert in Mumbai.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar ruled that the issues raised in the PIL pertain to policy and legislative matters, which are within the purview of the executive and legislative branches.
“You are inviting us to enter into the policymaking domain. You are also asking us to begin a regulatory measure. We will ask the State to consider grievances. We have our own well-defined ambit,” the court mentioned during an earlier hearing.
The PIL was filed by Amit Vyas, Founder-partner, Vertices Partners, in response to allegations of unethical ticketing practices during the sale of Coldplay concert tickets for shows scheduled in January 2025. Vyas highlighted the widespread use of bots and automated systems that enable scalpers to purchase large quantities of tickets within seconds.
Tickets for the concert, released on 22 September, 2024, via BookMyShow, sold out within 30 minutes. Many buyers reported difficulties purchasing tickets, citing issues such as being logged out of the platform or encountering system errors. Shortly afterwards, tickets began appearing on secondary market websites at prices far exceeding their original value.
Vyas alleged that event organisers, including BookMyShow and Live Nation, might be involved in reselling tickets through secondary market agents. He also filed a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, citing non-cooperation from the parties implicated.
The court acknowledged the concerns raised but clarified that it could not intervene in matters of policymaking. It advised Vyas to present his concerns to the State government or other relevant authorities.
The bench assured that law enforcement agencies are fully equipped to address criminal activities independently, emphasising that they do not require external cooperation to take action in such cases.
The PIL argued that ticket scalping violates consumer protection laws and fundamental rights, including the right to equality and access to public entertainment. It called for clear guidelines to prevent ticket scalping, the creation of an expert committee comprising a retired judge and a cyber expert to propose solutions for regulating online ticket sales and stronger legislative measures to combat the use of bots and other unethical practices. The petition also noted that such activities harm government revenue and exploit fans, underscoring the need for stricter consumer protections.
In response to public concerns, BookMyShow has filed an FIR against unidentified individuals and is considering cancelling tickets obtained through unethical means. The court reiterated that Vyas is free to take his grievances to the appropriate state authorities.
