Srinivasan’s plaint puts Tata Trusts board meet on hold

A surprise intervention by Tata Trust vice-chairman Venu Srinivasan, along with two other complainants, prompted the Maharashtra charity commissioner to cancel a crucial board meeting of the trust scheduled Saturday to decide his continuation on Tata Sons’ board.

- Varun Sood & Satish John

Commissioner's order omits Srinivasan's complaint details.

The charity commissioner's directive does not spell out the details of Srinivasan’s complaint and only states that his complaint was of “similar nature” to the one made by lawyer Katyayani Agrawal, who had alleged that three members of the six-member Sir Ratan Tata Trust were permanent trustees in alleged violation of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Rules that stipulate not more than a fourth of trustees can be lifetime members.

The complaint by industrialist Srinivasan, who is also the Trust's representative on the board of Tata Sons, is arguably the first time in recent memory that a sitting Trustee has alleged wrongdoing at the Tata Trusts, which own Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.

“Complaint/representation by Adv. Katyayani Agrawal is specifically addressed to the Charity Commissioner. It is clear from the text that Mr. Venu Srinivasan also made a representation to the Charity Commissioner. The issues highlighted by them are serious and require due consideration,” said a letter, dated 15 May, by Amogh S. Kaloti, Maharashtra charity commissioner, to the Tata Trustees.