I am not denying it happens. I have seen it at NDLS PF 1 myself. My point is that if you have to go back to your hometown at short notice, and all tickets are already gone, then what choice do you have? You will use these touts if you have no other way of getting home or you will bribe the TTE. Either way you are forced to do something you dont want to do because the system allows the touts to function. And the touts have proven to be one step ahead of the system every single time any change has been introduced to eliminate them.
.
When...
more... PRS reservation started happening, we thought touts will be gone because everything will be done by computer and will be transparent. Of course that did not stop the touts.
.
When IRCTC first came on the horizon, we thought okay now touts will be history because touts won't be able to hook up with PRS clerks and book tickets while we are left standing in the queue. Touts survived that.
.
When Tatkal was introduced with 4 pax restriction and ID card requirement, we thought okay now last minute travelers have an option and ID requirement would eliminate the need for using these touts. They survived that too.
.
When multiple Tatkal reservations were restricted from one ID, when Tatkal booking opening time was changed, etc., the touts managed to find ways around those too. Until and unless the system, which includes the technology as well as railway officials, is made tout-proof, they will continue to thrive and we will have no choice but to use their services in an emergency. For example, preventing automated software from booking hundreds of Tatkal tickets in seconds should be easily preventable with modern technology and yet we continue to see it happen every single day. Makes you wonder how serious IR really is about eliminating them.