Tata Trusts examining ex parte order, complaint filed by Venu Srinivasan

Tata Trusts has expressed surprise at the move by Venu Srinivasan, a long-time Trustee of several Tata Trusts, to file a complaint with Maharashtra Charity Commissioner.

“Sir Ratan Tata Trust was not aware of any complaint having been filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Trustee, until the receipt of directions from the Charity Commissioner today (May 15, 2026),” Tata Trusts said in a late-night statement.

“Mr. Venu Srinivasan had previously acknowledged the notice of the Board meeting originally scheduled to be held on May 8, 2026, and the notice of the meeting rescheduled to May 16, 2026,” the Tata Trusts statement said.

In an email in the late Friday evening (May 15, 2026), the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State, Mumbai, had directed the Board of Trustees of Tata Trusts to defer the meeting scheduled for May 16, 2026.

In that order, the Charity Commissioner mentioned the complaint filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan dated April 28, 2026.

Commenting on the order, Tata Trusts said the direction was issued ex parte with reference to a complaint dated April 18, 2026, by one Ms. Katyayani Agrawal which was in respect of only Sir Ratan Tata Trust.

“Given these facts, we understand that the direction issued is only in respect of Sir Ratan Tata Trust. It is reiterated that the direction was issued ex parte, with no notice being given to the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and no hearing being afforded to it, before the direction was issued,” the Tata Trusts said in the statement.

Ms. Katyayani Agrawal’s complaint relates to the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and alleges that three out of six trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, being permanent in nature, are in 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 or life trustees shall not exceed one-fourth of the total number of trustees of a public trust.

“It is the understanding of the Tata Trusts that the said amendment is prospective in nature and does not affect the appointments of perpetual trustees made prior to its coming into force on September 1, 2026. This is substantiated by both opinions and clarifications obtained by the Tata Trusts,” it said in the statement.

Earlier, a Writ Petition (L) No. 16647/2026, relating to Sir Ratan Tata Trust, was filed in the Bombay High Court by Ms Agarwal.

“It may be pertinent to mention that the Bombay High Court, on May 13, 2026, disposed of the aforementioned writ petition No. 16647/ 2026 as withdrawn. That petition had sought a direction restraining the same meeting of the Board of Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, on the basis of the complaint filed by Ms. Katyayani Agrawal,” the statement said.

Tata Trusts said that directions received from the Office of the Charity Commissioner were being examined by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.