Citizens, who may have a grievance against police over the issue, can get a refund, provided they file an affidavit and satisfy the bench that they never intended or volunteered to purchase such ticket(s).

An interim order passed on Friday by the division bench of Justices J N Patel and S G Mahajan stated that such affidavitS should reach the bench by December 10 along with a photocopy of the `purchased' ticket which shall be verified by the court and an order passed accordingly.

The bench was hearing a PIL by social activist Janardhan Moon, seeking an order refraining the police from forcible selling of tickets for the charity nite. Secretary to Department of Home and city police chief were namedrespondents.

The petitioner had charged, among other things, that the police were not only forcing people into purchasing the tickets but also selling the same in excess of the crowd capacity of the venue where the nite has been scheduled.At the proceedings on Friday, Government Pleader D N Kukday contested the charge while submitting that there was no question of forcing people into purchasing tickets since the police had observed all the rules, prescribed for the charity nite.

He submitted that the respondents were willing to refund the amount if anyone satisfies the court that he or she was forced to purchase ticket.This, the court observed, was quite fair on part of the respondents and in consonance with the instructions given on November 4 by the Additional Commissioner of Police to all those officials who were entrusted with the task of selling tickets.

Kukday submitted that the instructions notwithstanding, if there were complaints at individual level against any official, then the authoritieswere willing to take appropriate action provided the charge of forcible collection was proved.