Making Ticket Scalping Illegal Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Combating Black Market Activities

Event organizers face a common challenge in today’s market – the issue of market manipulation leading to a loss of control over pricing and event accessibility. This phenomenon not only affects the organizers themselves but also has implications on state revenue, as black market transactions often evade regulations and taxes.

Market manipulation occurs when individuals or groups artificially inflate or deflate the price of tickets for events such as concerts, sports games, or theater performances. This can happen through the use of bots, scalpers, or other tactics that exploit supply and demand dynamics. As a result, genuine fans may find themselves unable to purchase tickets at face value, while scalpers resell them at exorbitant prices.

One of the main reasons behind this type of manipulation is the limited supply of tickets compared to the high demand for popular events. Scalpers take advantage of this situation by purchasing tickets in bulk and reselling them at a significant markup. This not only harms consumers but also undermines the efforts of event organizers to create a fair and accessible ticketing system.

In addition to the negative impact on consumers, market manipulation also has broader economic consequences. When tickets are resold on the black market, state revenue is often lost due to transactions evading taxes and regulations. This means that governments miss out on potential revenue that could have been generated from ticket sales.

Furthermore, the presence of scalpers and bots in the ticketing market can lead to a lack of transparency and accountability. Organizers may struggle to track where their tickets end up and how they are being resold, making it difficult to enforce fair pricing practices or prevent fraudulent activities.

To combat market manipulation and protect consumers, event organizers can take various steps. One approach is to implement strict ticketing policies, such as limiting the number of tickets that can be purchased per person or requiring identification for entry. Additionally, utilizing technology to detect and block bots from purchasing tickets can help level the playing field for genuine fans.

Ultimately, market manipulation in the ticketing industry poses a significant challenge for event organizers and governments alike. By addressing this issue through proactive measures and collaboration between stakeholders, it is possible to create a more transparent, accessible, and fair ticketing system for all parties involved.