Two rulings by Maharashtra's charity commissioner have put him at the center of a governance dispute affecting Tata Sons' ownership structure.
Maharashtra State Charity Commissioner Amogh S. Kaloti, appointed to the post in February 2024, has issued two significant orders in 2026 affecting Tata Trusts, which collectively hold about 66.4% of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd through charitable entities including Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT), according to the Times of India.
Board Meeting Freeze in May 2026
View this post on Instagram
On May 15, 2026, Kaloti directed Tata Trusts and SRTT to defer a board meeting scheduled for May 16, at which Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata was expected to nominate new Tata Sons board members, Bloomberg and Business Today reported. The directive, issued under Section 36A(1) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, cited alleged non-compliance with Section 30A(2) regarding trustee composition, following complaints from Venu Srinivasan, former TVS Motor chairman, and Mehli Mistry, a former Tata trustee, per the Times of India and Moneylife. Kaloti ordered an inspector's inquiry and instructed SRTT to refrain from convening further meetings until the report was submitted, warning that proceeding could cause "further complications and multiplicity of proceedings," Economic Times reported.
1989 Share Transfer Cleared in September
On September 2, 2026, Kaloti closed a separate inquiry into the 1989 transfer of 833 Tata Sons shares from NRTT to Naval H. Tata, father of Noel Tata, finding it "made in full compliance with the provisions of law then in force," according to Business Standard and the Economic Times. Kaloti's order stated the sale was tax-driven, properly documented, and profitable for the trust, rejecting a complaint by trustee Vijay Singh, India Today reported. The New Indian Express noted Kaloti criticized Singh for not sharing his complaint with fellow trustees, calling the conduct damaging to the trust's reputation.
Unresolved Questions Remain
The Economic Times reported that Kaloti's order also empowers NRTT trustees to act if the late Ratan N. Tata's bequests are found to have violated conditions attached to the 1989 transfer. As of mid-September 2026, no public confirmation exists that the inspector's report on SRTT board composition has been completed or that the May meeting freeze has been lifted, leaving Tata Trusts' governance structure in continued regulatory limbo, according to the Times of India.
