Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and his son Neville have asked the Charity Commissioner of Maharashtra (CCM) to hear them before passing any order on complaints of mis-governance in the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT).
A source said Tata submitted a letter to the CCM through his lawyer on Wednesday following trustee Venu Srinivasan’s plea to restrict him from voting at the Tata Sons Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, is a trustee of SDTT, the largest shareholder among the Tata Trusts.
Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), which is the second-largest shareholder, is already facing a regulatory probe and has been barred from holding meetings since May following Srinivasan’s complaint.
His latest objections escalate tensions that have divided the trustees on issues such as the listing of Tata Sons shares and the reappointment of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran for a third term.
Tata Trusts did not comment.
Srinivasan’s complaint stems from issues surrounding the contentious Tata Sons board meeting held on September 17. Board members, including Srinivasan, voted 4-1 to give Chandrasekaran a third term in office from February 2027, with Noel Tata as the lone dissenter.
In his complaint, Srinivasan said the SDTT tried to prevent him from participating in and voting on the issue of the listing of Tata Sons at a board meeting by issuing a circular. Srinivasan described this action as an attempt to effect a power grab within the SDTT and, through it, to dictate what Tata Sons should do instead of allowing its board to objectively evaluate the available alternatives on their merits.
Srinivasan said Tata’s views urging the board to explore options other than listing, and his involvement in discussions with the Shapoorji Pallonji Group over monetisation of its 18 per cent stake, raised concerns about the direct involvement of the SDTT in the commercial affairs of Tata Sons. This also poses risks to the charitable status of Tata Trusts, he said.
“Such conduct constitutes mismanagement of the affairs and property of the SDTT and a breach of duties owed by its trustees,” he said.
He has demanded an immediate inquiry into the administration of the SDTT, the appointment of Noel Tata as its Chairman, and the circumstances surrounding his son Neville’s appointment to the board.
Importantly, he has asked the CCM to direct Tata not to participate in or vote at any meeting concerning the appointment of a nominee or proxy for the Tata Sons AGM. He has also sought an order restraining Tata from voting at the AGM and at Tata Sons board meetings. Srinivasan has also asked for status quo in the composition of the SDTT board pending completion of the probe.
The CCM restrictions on the SRTT have already caused a logjam. The Tata Sons AGM on August 18 had to be adjourned for the first time ever due to a lack of quorum resulting from the ban on the SRTT.
As a result, Tata Sons has been unable to finalise its FY26 accounts and declare a dividend of ₹4,474 crore to its shareholders. The AGM is also supposed to take up Chandrasekaran’s reappointment as a director retiring by rotation.
Published on September 30, 2026
