Powers and duties of, and restrictions on trustees

Section 36A of Maharashtra Public Trusts Act deals with powers and duties of, and restrictions on trustees. A trustee of every public trust shall administer the affairs of the trust and apply the funds and properties thereof for the purpose and objects of the trust in accordance with the terms of the trust, usage of the institution and lawful directions which the Charity Commissioner or court may issue in The Act was enacted on 14 Aug 1950.

¹[36A. Powers and duties of, and restrictions on, trustees.- (1) A trustee of every public trust shall administer the affairs of the trust and apply the funds and properties thereof for the purpose and objects of the trust in accordance with the terms of the trust, usage of the institution and lawful directions which the Charity Commissioner or court may issue in respect thereof, and exercise the same care as a man of ordinary prudence does when dealing with such affairs, funds or property, if they were his own.

(2) The trustee shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and the instrument of trust, be entitled to exercise all the powers incidental to the prudent and beneficial management of the trust, and to do all things necessary for the due performance of the duties imposed on him.

(3) No trustee shall borrow moneys (whether by way of mortgage or otherwise) for the purpose of or on behalf of the trust of which he is a trustee, except with the previous sanction of the Charity Commissioner, and subject to such conditions and limitations as may be imposed by him in the interest or protection of the trust.

²[Provided that, the Charity Commissioner or the Joint Charity Commissioner, as the case may be, shall decide the application for borrowing money from the Bank or Financial Institution forthwith and preferably within a period of fifteen days, if the Bank or the Financial Institution has provisionally sanctioned the loan.].

³[(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), in exceptional and extraordinary situations where the absence of previous sanction contemplated under sub-section (3) result in hardship to the trust, beneficiary or bona fide third party, the Charity Commissioner may grant ex-post-facto sanction to borrow moneys from any nationalized bank or the Scheduled Bank, by the trustees.].

(4) No trustee shall borrow money for his own use from any property of the public trust of which he is a trustee :

Provided that, in the case of a trustee who makes a gift of debentures or any deposit in his business or industry the trustee shall not be deemed to have borrowed from the trust for his own use.

Section 36A, Maharashtra Public Trusts Act (Act 29 of 1950).