Ratan Tata Trusts ‘not conscious’ of Venu Srinivasan’s grievance, reviewing Charity Commissioner’s order

Tata Trusts has expressed shock on the transfer by Venu Srinivasan, a long-time Trustee of a number of Tata Trusts, to file a grievance with Maharashtra Charity Commissioner.

“Sir Ratan Tata Belief was not conscious of any grievance having been filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Trustee, till the receipt of instructions from the Charity Commissioner at present (Might 15, 2026),” Tata Trusts stated in a late-night assertion.

“Mr. Venu Srinivasan had beforehand acknowledged the discover of the Board assembly initially scheduled to be held on Might 8, 2026, and the discover of the assembly rescheduled to Might 16, 2026,” the Tata Trusts assertion stated.

In an e mail within the late Friday night (Might 15, 2026), the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State, Mumbai, had directed the Board of Trustees of Tata Trusts to defer the assembly scheduled for Might 16, 2026.

In that order, the Charity Commissioner talked about the grievance filed by Mr. Venu Srinivasan dated April 28, 2026.

Commenting on the order, Tata Trusts stated the course was issued ex parte with regards to a grievance dated April 18, 2026, by one Ms. Katyayani Agrawal which was in respect of solely Sir Ratan Tata Belief.

“Given these details, we perceive that the course issued is just in respect of Sir Ratan Tata Belief. It’s reiterated that the course was issued ex parte, with no discover being given to the Sir Ratan Tata Belief and no listening to being afforded to it, earlier than the course was issued,” the Tata Trusts stated within the assertion.

Ms. Katyayani Agrawal’s grievance pertains to the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Belief and alleges that three out of six trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Belief, being everlasting in nature, are in contravention of Part 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (launched vide the Maharashtra Public Trusts (Second) Modification Act of 2025), which prescribes that the perpetual or life trustees shall not exceed one-fourth of the full variety of trustees of a public belief.

“It’s the understanding of the Tata Trusts that the stated modification is potential in nature and doesn’t have an effect on the appointments of perpetual trustees made previous to its coming into pressure on September 1, 2026. That is substantiated by each opinions and clarifications obtained by the Tata Trusts,” it stated within the assertion.

Earlier, a Writ Petition (L) No. 16647/2026, referring to Sir Ratan Tata Belief, was filed within the Bombay Excessive Courtroom by Ms Agarwal.

“It might be pertinent to say that the Bombay Excessive Courtroom, on Might 13, 2026, disposed of the aforementioned writ petition No. 16647/ 2026 as withdrawn. That petition had sought a course restraining the identical assembly of the Board of Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Belief, on the premise of the grievance filed by Ms. Katyayani Agrawal,” the assertion stated.

Tata Trusts stated that instructions acquired from the Workplace of the Charity Commissioner have been being examined by the Sir Ratan Tata Belief.