2 weeks ago
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Tata Trusts has expressed astonishment astatine the determination by Venu Srinivasan, a long-time Trustee of respective Tata Trusts, to record a ailment with Maharashtra Charity Commissioner.
“Sir Ratan Tata Trust was not alert of immoderate ailment having been filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Trustee, until the receipt of directions from the Charity Commissioner contiguous (May 15, 2026),” Tata Trusts said successful a late-night statement.
“Mr. Venu Srinivasan had antecedently acknowledged the announcement of the Board gathering primitively scheduled to beryllium held connected May 8, 2026, and the announcement of the gathering rescheduled to May 16, 2026,” the Tata Trusts connection said.
In an email successful the precocious Friday evening (May 15, 2026), the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State, Mumbai, had directed the Board of Trustees of Tata Trusts to defer the gathering scheduled for May 16, 2026.
In that order, the Charity Commissioner mentioned the ailment filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan dated April 28, 2026.
Commenting connected the order, Tata Trusts said the absorption was issued ex parte with notation to a ailment dated April 18, 2026, by 1 Ms. Katyayani Agrawal which was successful respect of lone Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
“Given these facts, we recognize that the absorption issued is lone successful respect of Sir Ratan Tata Trust. It is reiterated that the absorption was issued ex parte, with nary announcement being fixed to the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and nary proceeding being afforded to it, earlier the absorption was issued,” the Tata Trusts said successful the statement.
Ms. Katyayani Agrawal’s ailment relates to the creation of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and alleges that 3 retired of six trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, being imperishable successful nature, are successful contravention of Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (introduced vide the Maharashtra Public Trusts (Second) Amendment Act of 2025), which prescribes that the perpetual oregon beingness trustees shall not transcend one-fourth of the full fig of trustees of a nationalist trust.
“It is the knowing of the Tata Trusts that the said amendment is prospective successful quality and does not impact the appointments of perpetual trustees made anterior to its coming into unit connected September 1, 2026. This is substantiated by some opinions and clarifications obtained by the Tata Trusts,” it said successful the statement.
Earlier, a Writ Petition (L) No. 16647/2026, relating to Sir Ratan Tata Trust, was filed successful the Bombay High Court by Ms Agarwal.
“It whitethorn beryllium pertinent to notation that the Bombay High Court, connected May 13, 2026, disposed of the aforementioned writ petition No. 16647/ 2026 arsenic withdrawn. That petition had sought a absorption restraining the aforesaid gathering of the Board of Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, connected the ground of the ailment filed by Ms. Katyayani Agrawal,” the connection said.
Tata Trusts said that directions received from the Office of the Charity Commissioner were being examined by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
