Tata Trusts’ decision not to extend Mehli Mistry’s trusteeship has been contested before the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, according to sources cited by NDTV Profit.
The dispute comes amid a power struggle within the nonprofit organization, which collectively holds about 66% of Tata Sons. Last week, the tension escalated when Chairman Noel Tata, along with trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, voted against renewing Mistry’s tenure.
Mistry, however, has contended before the Commissioner—the state office overseeing philanthropic bodies—that a resolution passed by the Tata Trusts board in October last year entitles all existing trustees to life terms. The resolution states that upon the expiration of a trustee’s tenure, the trustee shall be re-appointed “…without any limit being attached to the period of tenure… in accordance with the law.” Sources told PTI that while past practice required unanimous approval for renewals, a life-term appointment specifically demands the consent of all trustees, implying Mistry’s continuation as a trustee-for-life hinges on full board approval.
If the decision to remove Mistry is upheld, he will be ousted from the board, potentially resolving a rift that analysts warned could destabilize the Tata Group—a corporate giant with a total market capitalization of roughly Rs 25 lakh crore. The disagreement initially arose during a September 11 board meeting regarding the reappointment of ex-Defence Secretary Vijay Singh as a nominee-director. While Noel Tata and Srinivasan supported extending Mistry’s term, four trustees, including Mistry himself, opposed it, leading to the resolution’s rejection. Observers also note tensions between Mistry’s camp and Noel Tata, the current Chairman, following Ratan Tata’s passing last October, though senior officials have urged internal resolution to preserve institutional stability.
