MAHARASHTRA State Charity Commissioner on Friday directed Tata Trusts to defer the proposed meeting of the board of trustees scheduled for May 16, citing a pending probe into the alleged violation of norms related to the board composition of Sir Ratan Tata Trust. The Charity Commissioner also asked the Trust not to hold any such meetings till the inquiry is completed. In a directive to the board of trustees of the Tata Trusts, Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State, Mumbai, Amogh S Kaloti, said a direction for an inspector inquiry has already been passed and a report is awaited following a complaint regarding the composition of the Board of Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Tata Trusts Vice Chairman Venu Srinivasan also made a representation to the Charity Commissioner. Comments from Tata Trusts could not be obtained as a mailed query remained unanswered.

 

The Charity Commissioner was asked to direct the trust to comply with the mandatory conditions by reducing the number of perpetual trustees to not more than one-fourth of the total strength, which is a maximum of one perpetual trustees in a Board of six members. “...In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Charity Commissioner, i.E., the undersigned, by Section 36A(1) and other provisions of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, a direction is issued to the Board of Trustees of TATA Trusts to defer the meeting of the Board of Trustees scheduled to be held on 16-05-2026. It is further directed not to hold any such meeting till submission of the report of the Inspector Inquiry,” said the directive. When contacted, advocate Katyayani Agrawal, who had first made a representation for the urgent intervention of the Charity Commissioner in the matter, confirmed receipt of the letter from the Charity Commissioner’s office, asking Tata Trusts to postpone the meeting scheduled for Saturday.

 

“The charity commissioner has written to Tata Trusts asking to defer all the future board meets, including one on Saturday. The inspector appointed will conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the charity commissioner,” Agarwal told PTI. Advocate Agrawal has been sent a copy of the communication addressed to the board of Trustees of Tata Trusts.