Maharashtra regulator did not propose rule freezing Tata Trust board
The charity commissioner's office stated it sent no proposal to the state government regarding the ordinance that halted Sir Ratan Tata Trust proceedings.
The Maharashtra Charity Commissioner did not propose the rule that has halted proceedings at the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), according to a report by Hindustan Times. The rule was introduced by the state government and applied by the commissioner on 15 May this year.
The Maharashtra Public Trusts (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, was promulgated on 1 September 2025. It limits the number of perpetual trustees to one-fourth of a public trust's total board strength if the trust deed does not specify their appointment. The previous law had no such cap.
In response to a Right to Information query, the charity commissioner's office said it had not submitted any proposal to the state's Law and Judiciary Department regarding the ordinance. The office added that deliberations were conducted within the Law and Judiciary Department.
The amendment has caused a deadlock at Tata Sons and prevented the company from holding its annual general meeting (AGM). SRTT is the second-largest shareholder in Tata Sons, holding a 23.56 per cent stake.
The dispute began on 28 April when Tata Trusts vice chairman Venu Srinivasan alleged that SRTT's three permanent trustees were violating public trust laws. Following this, the commissioner ordered that the trust could not hold meetings or make decisions during an investigation.
Tata Trusts maintains that the amendment is prospective and does not affect trustees appointed before 1 September 2025. The trust stated that Noel Tata, Jimmy Tata, and Jehangir HC Jehangir were all appointed prior to the rule's commencement.