Appointments open to challenge: Tata Trusts Mumbai: Objections raised by former trustee Mehli Mistry to the appointments of Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh—non-Zoroastrians and non-Mumbai residents—to the board of the Bai Hirabai J N Tata Navsari Charitable Institution have triggered a governance debate over whether restrictive clauses in the trust deed remain enforceable, despite a prior legal opinion that deemed them invalid under the law. In an internal email on Tuesday, Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma stated that "irrespective of the legal opinion and past precedent," the appointments of non-Zoroastrians remained open to challenge under the deed's provisions, adding that he and chairman Noel Tata believed "a legal opinion per se does not substitute for a judicial pronouncement." Sharma's note, seen by The Times of India, appears to reinforce Mistry's objections, underscoring that the appointments of non-Zoroastians and non-Mumbai residents could be questioned under the trust deed. The Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, to whom Mistry has escalated his objections, has not yet served notice or issued summons to the trustees of Bai Hirabai. Mistry has also sought sworn declarations from all trustees—including those who are Zoroastrians—affirming their eligibility under the trust deed. Citing the deed in his objections, Mistry stated: "If any trustee ceases to profess the Zoroastrian faith, he shall cease to be a trustee, as if he were 'dead'." This assertion highlights the contentious nature of the trust's provisions, which require trustees to be Zoroastrians and residents of Mumbai. The dispute centers on the interpretation of the trust deed's clauses, which were previously challenged in a legal opinion that found them to be "bad in law.#tata_trusts #venu_srinivasan #mehli_mistry #maharashtra_charity_commissioner #vijay_singh
Venu Srinivasan resigns from Hirabai Tata Trust after Mehli Mistry challenges his eligibility Venu Srinivasan, the senior-most vice-chairman of the Tata Trusts and a director on Tata Sons’ board, has resigned from the Hirabai Tata Trust following a dispute with former trustee Mehli Mistry. Mistry had petitioned the Charity Commissioner to challenge Srinivasan’s and another vice chairman, Vijay Singh’s, eligibility to serve on the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, arguing they are not Parsis. Srinivasan’s resignation came hours after reports surfaced about the petition, which could have broader implications for over a dozen entities within the Tata Trusts ecosystem. Mistry’s petition also questioned his own removal from the trusts in October 2025, claiming that the votes cast by Srinivasan and Singh—whom he alleged were ineligible—should be invalidated. Mistry had previously filed a similar petition in November 2025 but withdrew it within a week, stating he no longer had interest in the trusts. Srinivasan, who stepped down from the Navsari-based trust on Saturday, cited “preoccupation with other business commitments” as the reason for his resignation. Earlier this week, he assumed the role of chairman and managing director of Sundaram Clayton following a family split within the TVS Group. The Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, established in 1923 by Sir Ratanji Tata, focuses on the welfare of the Parsi community in Navsari, Gujarat, particularly in education and healthcare. It is part of the broader Tata Trusts network, which includes the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, one of the two principal trusts controlling a majority stake in Tata Sons.#tata_trusts #venu_srinivasan #mehli_mistry #maharashtra_charity_commissioner
Amid Mehli’s challenge, Venu quits a Tata trust TVS Motor chairman emeritus Venu Srinivasan has resigned from the board of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution (BHI), citing his focus on business operations. The move follows a legal challenge by former BHI trustee Mehli Mistry, who accused non-Zoroastrian trustees of violating the trust’s 1923 deed. Mistry’s petition to the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner argued that the trust’s founding document explicitly barred non-Zoroastrians and non-Mumbai residents from serving as trustees. This restriction applies only to BHI, unlike the other nine Tata Trusts, where Srinivasan continues to hold positions. Srinivasan’s resignation from BHI was confirmed by sources, though he did not respond to inquiries about the matter. Current trustees include Noel Tata, Jimmy Tata, Jehangir Jehangir, Darius Khambata, and Vijay Singh, a former defence secretary. Singh’s stance on Mistry’s petition remains unclear, as he declined to comment. Mistry contended that both Srinivasan and Singh lack Zoroastrian faith and permanent Mumbai residency, disqualifying them under the 1923 deed. He sought affidavits from all trustees to confirm compliance with eligibility criteria, emphasizing that any unqualified trustees could force the BHI board to fall below the minimum five-member requirement. Mistry’s legal arguments extended to claiming that Srinivasan and Singh’s appointments were void from the start, rendering their actions as trustees legally invalid. He alleged that their votes against his trusteeship extension constituted fraud and criminal breach of trust, potentially violating the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2024, and the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950.#venu_srinivasan #mehli_mistry #bhi #tata_trusts #swapnil_kothari
