Venu Srinivasan Gets Three-Year Term As Trustee At Sir Dorabji Tata Trust

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust's board has appointed Venu Srinivasan as a trustee for a period of three years with effect from Nov. 12, according to a release issued on Tuesday.

This comes after the Maharashtra government enforced an ordinance that bars trusts from allowing life trusteeship to all board members.

"The decision is in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and to designate him as vice chairman of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust," the release stated.

Notably, the Maharashtra government has enforced the Maharashtra Public Trusts (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, effective September 2025, amending the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. The ordinance introduces new provisions defining tenure and perpetual trustees, limiting the number of life trustees in any public trust to one-fourth of its total board.

The amendment is expected to directly affect the board structure of Tata Trusts, where several trustees hold life appointments. Any resolution passed by the trust after the effective date that does not align with the revised provisions may need to be reviewed.

The ordinance mandates that the number of perpetual trustees in a trust must not exceed one-fourth of the total board at any time. A trustee whose tenure expires may be elevated to perpetual status only to fill a vacancy created by death, insolvency, incapacity, permanent departure from India, or conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude.

Meanwhile, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust's board has also approved the induction of Titan veteran Bhaskar Bhat and Noel Tata's son Neville Tata as trustees, according to the release. Their appointment will also come into effect for three years, starting Nov. 12.

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, along with Sir Ratan Tata Trust, forms the Tata Trusts, which owns a controlling 65% stake in Tata Sons — the holding entity of the salt-to-software conglomerate.