Coldplay 2025 concert: HC dismisses PIL seeking guidelines against black marketing, ticket scalping

Bombay High Court dismisses plea for guidelines on ticket scalping, allowing government to address concerns legislatively.

The Bombay High Court on Friday (January 10, 2025) dismissed a plea seeking guidelines to curb black marketing and ticket scalping at major events in the backdrop of the alleged foul play in the ticket sale process for British band Coldplay's concert in Navi Mumbai this month.

A division Bench of Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said the issues raised in the petition pertain to the legislative domain, and hence, the court cannot interfere.

"This is a legislative and executive decision. The court cannot interfere. The government is at liberty to formulate legislation addressing the concerns raised in the petition," the court said.

The Bench said that in the absence of a clear statutory framework mandating the reliefs sought in the petition, it cannot direct legislation to be enacted or laws to be amended in a particular manner.

"However, in the event that the competent authority [of the government] considers it necessary, they remain at liberty to take appropriate legislative or executive measures to address the concerns highlighted by the petitioner," the court said.

It permitted the petitioner to make a representation before the competent authority.

The petitioner, Amit Vyas, an advocate, claimed there are several irregularities and illegalities during the sale of tickets for major events such as concerts, live shows and so on.