New Delhi, India — Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, don change how India dey handle economic offences like ticket scalping. This new law go criminalize the unauthorized resale of tickets, something wey no get clear rules for the Indian Penal Code (IPC) before. The legislation classify ticket scalping as ‘petty organized crime,’ helping to fill serious gaps for enforcement.
For long, ticket scalping don dey operate for the legal shadows for India. Scalpers dey acquire tickets in bulk, often using automated systems, and then sell am for higher prices. This action dey create false scarcity and disrupt fair ticket access for genuine fans. Before the BNS, ticket scalpers dey enjoy freedom because IPC no get specific rules wey fit tackle dem effectively, leaving authorities to just invoke vague sections wey no really solve the problem.
Under Section 112(1) of the BNS, dem define the offence well-well: “If a member of a group or gang, either singly or jointly, commits unauthorized selling of tickets, he is said to commit the offence of petty organised crime.” Dis classification dey make am clear say this na no be just individual crime; e be organized crime wey deserve serious penalties.
Organized crimes like ticket scalping dey happen all over the world, and India’s new law dey follow international trends wey dey focus on coordinated criminal activities rather than just one-off resales. Countries like the United States and Australia don already put laws in place, so India dey catch up with dem. But the big question na how we fit enforce this new law effectively.
Several challenges dey stand in front of the law’s effective implementation. To address this, we fit establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) wey go help law enforcement know how to handle cases. Also, collaboration with digital platforms for real-time monitoring fit help catch scalpers as dem dey operate. Training programs go ensure say police and judges sabi the difference between genuine sales and sharp practices.
Public education, na another key area. We need campaigns wey go teach people about how to buy tickets properly and warn dem about the risks of black-market deals. Plus, blockchain ticketing technology fit prevent tampering and unauthorized resale by securing the entire ticket process from purchase to validation.
To conclude, Section 112 of the BNS be timely reform wey don recognize say ticket scalping na form of organized economic exploitation. By classifying am as a group crime, this law fit aid systemic change. But for this law to really work, we need serious effort for enforcement, public awareness, and collaboration between government bodies, event organizers, and tech companies. With consistent work, this new provision fit bring more fairness and transparency to India’s ticketing system.
