Maharashtra’s Charity Commissioner has directed the board of Tata Trusts to defer its scheduled May 16 meeting, citing ongoing inquiries into alleged violations of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act and concerns that decisions taken at the meeting could complicate pending proceedings.
In an order issued on May 15, Maharashtra Charity Commissioner Amogh S Kaloti invoked powers under Section 36A(1) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act to direct the trusts not to hold any board meeting until the submission of an inspector’s inquiry report.
The order follows complaints filed by advocate Katyayani Agrawal and trustee Venu Srinivasan alleging non-compliance with Section 30A(2) of the Act, which governs the composition of trustee boards.
Urgent intervention
According to the order, Agrawal had sought urgent intervention from the charity commissioner, alleging that the board had more perpetual trustees than permitted under law. Agrawal urged authorities to initiate an inquiry, reduce the number of perpetual trustees to not more than one-fourth of total strength, that is maximum one perpetual trustee in a board of six, take consequential action to restore compliance and ensure appointment of trustees in accordance with law, and pass any other appropriate orders to prevent further violation of the Act and protect the interest of the public trust and its beneficiaries.
