The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the Central Government regarding a plea that calls for a regulatory framework to govern the resale of concert tickets through authorized platforms, aiming to prevent illegal and unauthorized selling practices.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notices to the Union Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Electronics, and Information Technology, as well as private entities StubHub Inc, Viagogo Entertainment Inc, and Bigtree Entertainment Pvt Ltd (which operates BookMyShow). The ministries and companies have been directed to submit their replies within four weeks, with a hearing set for February 18, 2025, when a similar petition is also scheduled for discussion.

The petition, filed by Samridhi and four others, represented by senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao and advocate Malak Bhatt, focuses on the upcoming Coldplay concert in India. The plea emphasizes the need for online ticketing platforms like BookMyShow to offer secure and convenient digital solutions, thus curbing black-marketing and unauthorized sales of tickets.

The petition highlights a recurring issue with high-profile events such as concerts and cricket matches, where tickets are often resold at exorbitant prices through unauthorized means, exploiting the general public. Despite Coldplay’s official partnership with BookMyShow for ticket sales, other platforms have allegedly engaged in illegal resale practices.

In light of this, the petition calls for stronger safeguards from platforms like BookMyShow, particularly to prevent bots from purchasing large numbers of tickets for resale at inflated prices. It also urges the court to direct the Centre to block such illegal ticket re-sellers from operating within India.

This comes after a previous petition raised concerns about ticket scalping during the booking of Diljit Dosanjh’s "Dil-Luminati Tour," where tickets were reportedly resold at inflated rates. The petition contends that such practices distort the fairness of the ticket-buying process and diminish the fan experience by making events accessible only to those willing to pay excessive amounts.

The petitioners also seek the formation of a committee to investigate the widespread issue of ticket scalping in India.