Politics · India · 4 hrs ago
Maharashtra charity regulator says it did not propose rule affecting Tata Trusts
Maharashtra’s Charity Commissioner says it did not propose the rule that has blocked Sir Ratan Tata Trust board proceedings.
The state government introduced an amendment to the public trusts law, which limits permanent trustees to one-fourth of a board when the trust deed does not set a different rule.
Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which had six trustees, became caught in the dispute after a complaint that its three permanent trustees were breaking the law.
The commissioner invoked the amendment on 15 May, and the trust’s board proceedings were suspended.
The freeze has contributed to a deadlock at Tata Sons and stalled the company’s annual general meeting.
The state Law and Judiciary Department has not provided details about how the amendment was drafted, saying the file is still under government consideration.
Maharashtra’s Charity Commissioner says it did not propose the amendment that froze proceedings of Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
The amendment capped perpetual trustees at one-fourth of a public trust’s board where its deed does not specify their appointment.
The state government introduced the rule, which the commissioner invoked on 15 May, according to the regulator’s office.
The freeze has contributed to a deadlock at Tata Sons and stalled its annual general meeting.
The state legislature ratified the ordinance as an amendment act in December 2025.
- Who
- Maharashtra’s Charity Commissioner and Sir Ratan Tata Trust are central to the story.
- What
- The commissioner says it did not propose the amendment that led to a freeze on the trust’s board proceedings.
- When
- The ordinance was promulgated on 1 September 2025; the commissioner’s office responded to the RTI query on 15 October.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- The amendment capped the number of perpetual trustees at one-fourth of a public trust’s board where its trust deed does not specify their appointment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The state government promulgated the Maharashtra Public Trusts (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
The state legislature ratified the ordinance as the Maharashtra Public Trusts (Second Amendment) Act, 2025.
Tata Trusts vice chairman Venu Srinivasan complained to the charity commissioner that Sir Ratan Tata Trust’s three permanent trustees were violating the law governing public trusts.
The commissioner invoked the rule, suspending the trust’s board proceedings.
The commissioner’s office told Mint in an RTI response that it had submitted no proposal for the ordinance.
- Trust affected
- Sir Ratan Tata Trust
- Trustees at time of complaint
- Six
- Permanent trustees cited in complaint
- Three
- Trustee cap
- One-fourth of a public trust’s total board strength
- Ordinance promulgated
- 1 September 2025
- Ordinance ratified
- December 2025
What people are saying
no proposal has been submitted by the Charity Commissioner, State of Maharashtra to the state’s Department of Law and Justice
However, the deliberations were made in the Law and Judiciary Department.
Generally, the introduction of law or any amendments to existing laws are introduced with consultation of the regulatory body (state or central) of that law because ultimately, such regulatory body ensures the effective implementation of the law or its amendments,