Mumbai: Vijay Singh, vice chairman of Tata Trusts and a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), has approached the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner seeking an immediate inquiry into the administration and governance of the charitable trust, including its involvement in the commercial and strategic affairs of Tata Sons.
"I have written to the charity commissioner around the same time as Venu Srinivasan, expressing similar concerns," Singh told media.
As reported by media on September 30, Srinivasan, Tata Trusts vice chairman and its joint nominee director on the Tata Sons board, has sought an inquiry into the appointment and continued status of Noel Tata as a perpetual trustee and the basis on which he assumed and continues to hold the chairmanship of Tata Trusts. He has also sought scrutiny of the appointment of son Neville Tata as a trustee.
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Singh also demanded inquiry into what he described as his (Srinivasan's) exclusion from relevant decision-making processes.
Singh's submissions are on similar lines, including seeking an examination of the involvement of SDTT and its trustees in the commercial and strategic affairs of Tata Sons.
He has raised concerns over the increasing involvement of SDTT and Tata Trusts in matters concerning Tata Sons.
"SDTT's substantial shareholding in Tata Sons cannot mean that the trust assumes the functions of a commercial enterprise or participates directly in Tata Sons' business affairs," Singh said in the letter to the charity commissioner.
Singh also flagged potential tax implications arising from such involvement, citing provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2025, governing commercial activities by registered non-profit organisations. He has argued that activities not incidental to the trust's charitable objects could put its tax registration and exemption at risk.
"Given the substantial value of SDTT's shareholding in Tata Sons, the potential consequences for the trust and its charitable corpus could be immense," he has said.
The two submissions - by Srinivasan and Singh - are now before the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner. On Wednesday, Tata Trusts made a submission to the charity commissioner asking to be heard before the official takes any decision on the complaints.
Singh has sought consequential action based on the findings of the inquiry, including suspension or removal of trustees where warranted and appointment of trustees in accordance with the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act.
He has also sought directions under Section 36A(1) of the Act restraining SDTT and its board from convening meetings, passing circular resolutions or undertaking processes relating to the administration, management or composition of the trust until completion of the inspector's inquiry. Singh has asked that pending an inquiry, status quo be maintained in relation to the composition of the SDTT board of trustees.
His move comes amid widening differences within Tata Trusts over the functioning of SDTT and the role of its trustees in matters concerning Tata Sons.
The development also comes against the backdrop of proceedings concerning SRTT. In May, Maharashtra Charity Commissioner Amogh S Kaloti directed SRTT's board to postpone its May 16 meeting and refrain from convening such meetings until the submission of an inspector's report, following complaints concerning the composition of the board and alleged non-compliance with Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act.
