Noel Tata and his son Neville filed caveats in the Bombay High Court and the city civil court on Oct 7 to protect themselves from complaints lodged by fellow trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh before the Maharashtra charity commissioner. These caveats, filed as precautionary measures, name other SDTT trustees Darius Khambata and Bhaskar Bhat, a procedural inclusion noted by observers.
The complaints allege governance issues, questioning Noel Tata's dual role at Tata Sons and Neville Tata's appointment as a trustee. By filing caveats in both forums, the duo aimed to preclude any order before their replies are heard.
The Maharashtra charity commissioner had initially set an Oct 12 deadline for SDTT, Noel and Neville to respond to the complaints. After the complainants requested more time, the commissioner extended the deadline to Oct 19.
SDTT, the largest shareholder in Tata Sons, sits at the heart of the Tata Trusts network that controls a majority stake in the Tata Group. The dispute has drawn attention to the trust's governance structure and the oversight of its trustees.
As the case moves forward, the trustees are expected to file their responses before Oct 19, after which the commissioner will decide on any further action or potential enforcement measures.