Tata Trusts has decided to initiate formal proceedings to amend parts of the trust deed of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, focusing on rules that govern who can become a trustee. The move comes amid an ongoing dispute over eligibility criteria and recent challenges to board appointments.
The decision was taken after a review of the trust’s governance structure, where trustees agreed to approach the appropriate authority to modify certain restrictive clauses in the 1923 deed. These clauses have been under scrutiny for limiting trustee eligibility, including provisions that were earlier interpreted as excluding non-Zoroastrians.
The issue gained attention after objections were raised regarding the appointment of certain trustees, leading to a complaint before the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner. The complaint questioned whether the appointed members met the eligibility requirements laid out in the trust deed.
In response, Tata Trusts has maintained that its broader philosophy has always been inclusive and secular. It also noted that, based on past legal opinion, non-Zoroastrians have been associated with the trust since 2000. However, the existing wording of the deed has still led to legal and governance concerns.
The trust has clarified that the proposed changes are intended to correct inconsistencies in the old document and align governance rules with current values and practices. The amendment process will require approval from the relevant regulatory authority before any changes take effect.
Alongside this, Tata Trusts has expressed confidence in its leadership and administrative structure, including its CEO Siddharth Sharma, whose role has also been referenced in recent discussions around trust governance.
The development reflects a wider effort within the organisation to modernise legacy trust structures that were created nearly a century ago. It also highlights ongoing debates around how historical legal provisions should be interpreted in today’s governance framework.
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