Rift in Tata Trusts: Noel Tata Blocks Mehli Mistry’s Return

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In a rare and unexpected split within Tata Trusts, Chairman Noel Tata and vice chairmen Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh have voted against the reappointment of businessman Mehli Mistry as a permanent trustee — a move that could trigger a legal and internal storm at one of India’s most powerful philanthropic bodies.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the vote took place on Tuesday and saw a 3-3 deadlock among the six trustees. While Pramit Jhaveri, Darius Khambata, and Jehangir H.C. Jehangir supported Mistry’s return, Noel Tata and the two vice chairmen stood firmly opposed.

The decision breaks from the consensus-driven tradition that has guided the Trusts for decades. Just last week, when Srinivasan was confirmed as a trustee for life, the move was described as a mere “procedural formality,” with all trustees reportedly in agreement. Under the Trusts’ constitution, however, appointments and removals require unanimous approval — leaving Mistry’s exclusion open to dispute.

Mistry, a longtime confidant of the late Ratan Tata, is expected to challenge the decision legally, citing a joint meeting of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust held on 17 October 2024, where all trustees had agreed to make their positions permanent.

The standoff deepens existing tensions that surfaced last month when Jhaveri, Khambata, Jehangir, and Mistry voted to remove Vijay Singh as their representative on the Tata Sons board, citing a lack of transparency in board decisions. That episode had already revealed fault lines within the promoter group controlling Tata Sons, the holding company of the $350 billion Tata conglomerate.

For Noel Tata, who took over as chairman on 11 October 2024, just two days after Ratan Tata’s passing, the dispute presents a serious test of leadership. He and Srinivasan remain the Trusts’ representatives on the Tata Sons board, which makes their role central to balancing both governance and legacy.

As internal discussions continue quietly, all seven trustees have declined to comment publicly. However, with Mistry preparing to contest his removal, the battle for control within Tata Trusts — the soul of the Tata empire — may now shift from the boardroom to the courtroom.