Mehli Mistry Voted Out from Tata Trusts After Board Decision

After a majority of trustees voted against his reappointment to the boards of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mehli Mistry, a close friend of Ratan Tata, is leaving Tata Trusts. Mistry will resign from the Tata Trusts’ governing boards after three of the six trustees opposed his renomination in a circular resolution that was distributed last week.

According to sources, former Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, TVS Group chairman Venu Srinivasan, and Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata were the three trustees that opposed his reappointment. Darius Khambata and Pramit Jhaveri voted in favour of Mistry’s continuation at the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, while Khambata and Jehangir HC Jehangir did the same at the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. The split ruling, which ends Mehli Mistry’s official affiliation with two of India’s most significant philanthropic organisations, highlights the widening gaps in the trusts’ leadership about appointments and governance issues.

Tata Trusts’ Internal Rift Lead to Mehli’s Exit

Mistry’s current three-year tenure as a trustee ends on October 28. He was first inducted in 2022. The most recent suggestion is made in the midst of rumoured internal divisions within Tata Trusts, with one side reportedly supporting Chairman Noel Tata and another group led by Mistry and consisting of supporters of Ratan Tata.

The most influential stakeholder in the company is the Tata Trusts, which together own 66% of Tata Sons. With Mehli Mistry’s support, Tata Trusts unanimously reappointed Venu Srinivasan as a lifetime trustee earlier this week. Mistry backed Srinivasan’s reappointment as a trustee of Tata Trusts, as did trustees Pramit Jhaveri, Jehangir H.C. Jehangir, and Darius Khambata.

They did, however, include a crucial requirement: majority consent is required for any subsequent trustee renewals. They cautioned that their permissions would be revoked if there was not unanimous agreement. Voting was never a possibility within the Trusts during Ratan Tata’s leadership. Traditionally, decisions were made by consensus and group agreement; however, this approach is currently being examined in light of indications of internal conflict.

Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh Opposed Mistry’s Reappointment

Mistry had the backing of trustees Pramit Jhaveri, Darius Khambatta, and Jehangir H.C. Jehangir, although Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, and Vijay Singh were apparently against his continuing. A month ago, a group of four trustees led by Mehli Mistry objected to Vijay Singh’s reappointment as a nominee director on the board of Tata Sons, the firm’s main holding company. This was the most recent flashpoint.

A rare and visible indication of discontent among one of India’s most prestigious corporate institutions, the decision caused an unusual split (3-4) within the Tata Trusts. The second week of September 2025 saw Singh’s resignation from the Tata Sons board. Singh needed the support of both Srinivasan and Noel Tata, but it was insufficient because all Tata Trust actions must be approved unanimously.

The significant division among the trustees was revealed when Srinivasan and Tata resisted Mistry’s candidature for the Tata Sons board. There is no chance that Noel will change his mind about turning down Mistry’s application for a Tata Sons board membership, according to people familiar with the situation.