Mumbai, Aug. 20 -- At 2.30pm on Tuesday, 18 August, the shareholders of Tata Sons joined a video call to clear a short, dull agenda. Approve the accounts for the year to March. Declare a dividend. And confirm N. Chandrasekaran for another spell on the board.

The annual general meeting never began because Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), the second largest shareholder in Tata Sons with a 23.56% stake, was not able to nominate a member to represent it. SRTT has been hobbled by a 15 May order by the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner that prevented it from convening its own board meeting to decide on a nominee.

According to the Tata Sons Articles of Association, a meeting can have a quorum only if the two biggest shareholders (Sir Dorabji Tata T...