Mehli Mistry resigns from Tata Trusts trustee position:Cites Ratan Tata’s legacy and values; decision taken to avoid controversy

Mehli Mistry, who was close to Ratan Tata, has resigned from three Tata Trusts. These include the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, and Bai Hirabai J.N. Tata Navsari Charitable Institution Trust. He informed about this in a letter dated 4 November. Recently, there was a voting regarding Mistry’s reappointment in the Tata Trusts’ key charity arms. In this, three trustees, Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, and Vijay Singh, voted against his reappointment. Mistry’s term was set to end on 28 October. Main reason for resignation: Avoiding controversy In his resignation letter, Mistry explained that on returning to Mumbai, he became aware of recent news concerning his trusteeship. He said his resignation would help prevent speculative reports that could harm Tata Trusts’ reputation. “My dedication to Ratan N. Tata’s vision includes ensuring that Tata Trusts is not drawn into any controversy. I believe prolonging the situation could cause irreparable damage to the institution’s reputation,” he wrote. He also quoted Ratan Tata: “Nobody is bigger than the institution it serves.” Future roadmap: Continued association with key institutions Mistry will remain connected to the Tata Education and Development Trust (TEDT) and Breach Candy Hospital, which recently received ₹500 crore in CSR funds from the Tata Group. After Ratan Tata’s retirement, Noel Tata assumed the chairmanship, and consolidation within the trusts has been ongoing. Tata Trusts’ stake in Tata Sons Tata Trusts, comprising Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), and other trusts, controls 66% of Tata Sons. Mistry had served as a trustee of SDTT and SRTT since 2022. Together, these two primary trusts hold a 51% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, and have the right to nominate one-third of its board members. Tata Sons oversees companies such as TCS, Tata Steel, and Tata Motors. Controversy began with removal of Vijay Singh from Tata Sons board Srinivasan’s reinstatement was conditionally approved by Mistry Last week, Mistry had conditionally approved Srinivasan’s reinstatement as trustee and vice chairman of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. He had said in an email – If any trustee does not pass the resolution for Venu Srinivasan’s reinstatement or does not bring a similar unanimous resolution for other trustees when their terms end, I will not give my formal approval for Srinivasan’s reinstatement. Mehli Mistry is Cyrus Mistry’s cousin Mistry is the promoter of M Pallonji Group, which has businesses like industrial painting, shipping, dredging, car dealership. Their company Sterling Motors is a dealer of Tata Motors. Mistry is the cousin of Shapoorji Mistry and his late brother Cyrus Mistry. Shapoorji Pallonji Group holds 18.37% stake in Tata Sons. Read Mehli Mistry’s complete letter written to Tata Trusts trustees