Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and vice-chairmen Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh have reportedly rejected the reappointment of businessman Mehli Mistry—Ratan Tata’s long-time associate—as a permanent trustee. The decision threatens to spark internal conflict within the philanthropic bodies that control around two-thirds of Tata Sons, with Mistry expected to challenge the move legally.
On Tuesday, Noel Tata, Srinivasan, and Singh voted against Mistry’s lifetime trusteeship, while Pramit Jhaveri, Darius Khambata, and Jehangir H.C. Jehangir supported it, marking a rare split in the board’s typically unified decisions. Just last week, when Srinivasan was made a permanent trustee, Mistry and others had called it a procedural formality, citing an October 2024 resolution granting all trustees lifetime terms. Since the Trusts’ rules require unanimous approval for appointments, the rejection poses both legal and operational hurdles for Noel Tata, who assumed leadership days after Ratan Tata’s passing.
The divide, which began with disagreements over Vijay Singh’s role on the Tata Sons board, now raises uncertainty about decision-making within the Trusts, as Mistry’s legal challenge appears imminent.
