Kolkata: A former judge of Supreme Court has said that Sir Ratan Tata Trust is not complying with Maharashtra law for three trustees. According to media reports, former Supreme Court Judge Justice Krishna Murari has said that what an amended law of Maharashtra demands is at variance with three life trustees on this trust and he thinks that the number of life trustees should be reduced from three to one to comply with the law. “It is evident that the present composition of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, comprising three life trustees out of a total of six, is not in conformity with the mandate of Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950,” PTI has stated in a report after reviewing a copy of the opinion given by the former SC justice.
Why is it significant
The Tata trusts have been in the news for quite some time. The first murmurs of discontent were heard in 2025 when Mehli Mistry, former trustee of Tata Trusts was voted out by a majority of trustees in November. The latest opinion of justice Krishna Murari has become significant since a lawyer has filed a petition with the Maharashtra Charities Commissioner and has alleged violations by Sir Ratan Tata Trust of the state law pertaining to appointment of lifetime trustees. As things stand now, there are six trustees on this trust and half of them are lifetime trustees. They are Jimmy N Tata, who is the brother of late Ratan Tata; Noel Tata who is the chairman of Tata Trusts and Jehangir HC. Jimmy Tata has been in this position since 1989.
Can seek reappointment
If two of the lifetime trustees step down they can seek re-appointment, the SC judge said. “The concept of life trusteeship, as presently existing within the Trust, does not originate in the foundational instrument, but is the result of subsequent internal practice or administrative determination,” the former apex court judge mentioned.
Importance of Tata Trusts
In the Tata industrial empire, the trusts are of immense significance, which originates from the fact that they have control over the Tata Group. For example, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust together hold a majority stake in Tata Sons. In turn, Tata Sons is the holding company of the Tata Group. From time to time reports have surfaced say there is continuing divide among the members of the Tata trusts and some have even questioned the authority of Noel Tata, who is the chairman of the Tata trusts.