A writ petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court alleging that the Sir Ratan Tata Trust is functioning in violation of Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950, as amended in 2025.

The petitioner has contended that the Trust currently has six trustees, out of which three : Noel Tata, Jimmy Tata, and Jehangir H.C. Jehangir are serving as “Life Trustees”, allegedly exceeding the statutory cap prescribed under the amended law.

According to the petition, the amendment introduced on September 1, 2025 provides that where the trust instrument does not specifically permit appointment of perpetual or life trustees, such trustees cannot exceed one-fourth of the total number of trustees. The plea argues that the Will and Codicil of Sir Ratanji Jamsetji Tata do not expressly provide for life trusteeship.

The petitioner has sought directions to the Charity Commissioner and the Trust authorities to reconstitute the Board of Trustees in compliance with the amended statutory framework. The plea further states that representations were sent to the Charity Commissioner and various trustees in April 2026, but no action was taken.