2025:BHC-OS:595-DB Shabnoor IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 89 OF 2024 Amit Vyas adult Indian inhabitant having his Office at Vertices Partners Tulsiani Chambers, 801-804, A Wing, 8^th Floor, Free Press Journal Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021. … Petitioner V/s.

1. Union of India SHABNOOR AYUB PATHAN Through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Digitally signed by SHABNOOR AYUB PATHAN Electronics Niketan, 6, CGO Complex, Date: 2025.01.15 Lodhi Road, New Delhi 11003. … Respondent

18:01:46 +0530

2. Union of India Through the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Custom Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg New Delhi – 110001.

3. State of Maharashtra through its Ministry of Department of Goods and Service Tax, GST Bhavan, Ground Floor, New Building, Balwant Singh Dodhi Marg, Mazgaon, Mumbai 400010

4. Live Nation Entertainment Inc.

Formerly known as CCE Spinco. Inc.

Having its Headquarters at

9348 Civic Centre Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Email: media@ticketmaster.com, moniquesowinski@livenation.com, IR@livenation.com, 5. Big Tree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Having its registered office at Wajeda House, Ground Floor, Gulmohar Cross Road 7, Near Tian Restaurant, Juhu Scheme, Mumbai – 400 049.

Email Id: legal@bookmyshow.com

6. BookMyShow Live Pvt. Ltd. Having its registered office at CTS No.125, Village Vile Parle, Near W. E. Highway, Next to Neelkanth Complex, Sahar Road, Vile Parle East, Mumbai – 400099 Email Id. legal@bookmyshow.com 7. Stubhub India Private Limtied.

Through Authorised Representatives Registered Office;

Plot No.32, CTS No.16295-34, Jyothi Nagar, Behind Sai Mandir, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431005.

Email:- vinay@macvinconsultancy.com

8. Viagogo Entertainment Inc.

Through Authorised Representatives Registered Office;

1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A – 19801.

Also At;

160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, Delaware, County of Kent, U.S.A – 19904 Email:- privacyrequest@orders.viagogo.com Mr. Janak Dwarkadas, Sr. Advocate, (through V.C.) a/w Ankita Singhania a/w Mr. Saif Digankar, Mr. Amit Vyas, Mr. Naserali Rizvi, Ms. Poonam Ashar i/by Vertices Partners for Petitioner.

Smt. Sheetal Malvankar, AGP for State – Respondent No.3.

CORAM : DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ &

AMIT BORKAR, J.

RESERVED ON : JANUARY 3, 2025 PRONOUNCED ON : JANUARY 10, 2025 JUDGMENT (PER AMIT BORKAR, J.)

1. The petitioner, invoking jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeks a writ of mandamus directing respondent Nos.1 to 3 to take cognizance of online ticketing scams and black marketing, and to frame effective and comprehensive laws, rules, and regulations to prevent the practices of ticket scalping, touting, and black marketing concerning the sale of tickets for ‘major events’. The petitioner further prays for the constitution of an expert committee to study and recommend measures to control and regulate the online sale of tickets for such events.

2. The petitioner specifically draws attention to substantial irregularities and illegalities alleged to have occurred in the online sale of tickets conducted on 22nd September 2024 for the concert “COLDPLAY: Music of the Spheres World Tour”, scheduled for January 2025. Based on these allegations, the petitioner seeks directions for reconvening the online sale of tickets, if necessary.

3. The petitioner is a practicing Advocate and claims locus standi by invoking the doctrine of public interest litigation to bring to light grievances impacting a large section of the public. Respondent Nos.5 and 6 are companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956. Respondent No.4 is a globally renowned live entertainment company responsible for organizing and hosting international concerts. Respondent No. 6 is a group company of respondent No.5 and acts as a liaison for promoting live entertainment events in India. The petitioner alleges that an online ticke