Tata trusts ask Mumbai charity commissioner to reject Mehli Mistry’s objection

What the trusts have asked

Two Tata charitable entities – Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution (BHJTNCI) – have filed separate applications with the deputy charity commissioner of Mumbai, seeking a rejection of former trustee Mehli Mistry’s objection to the recording of his exit from their boards. In their submissions the trusts contend that Mistry no longer qualifies as a person having an interest in the trusts because his appointed term has ended, and therefore he cannot legally challenge the recent board changes.

Why the trusts say Mistry has no standing

The trusts point to the three‑year tenure that began on 29 October 2022. That term ran its full course on 28 October 2025. A resolution in October 2025 to re‑appoint Mistry as a lifetime trustee failed to achieve the unanimous approval required by the amended Section 30A of the Maharashtra Public Trusts (MPT) Act. As a result, the trusts argue, Mistry’s trusteeship ceased automatically when the original term expired, leaving him without any vested interest.

Both SDTT and BHJTNCI also reject allegations of irregularities in the appointment of current trustees. They note that the deputy charity commissioner accepted a report on the appointment of a trustee without a fixed tenure on 1 July 2025, and that subsequent changes – such as Venu Srinivasan’s appointment for three years effective 12 November 2025 – were duly reported in January 2026.

Parallel dispute over eligibility criteria

Separately, BHJTNCI has moved to replace its reporting trustee, Vijay Singh, with Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata. Mistry’s counsel argued that the trust deed of 7 December 1923 requires trustees to be practising Zoroastrians, a clause the trusts say was never part of the original instrument and has been superseded by long‑standing practice of appointing non‑Parsi trustees for more than 25 years.

Next steps in the regulator’s timeline

The deputy charity commissioner has scheduled the matter for further hearing on 5 November. The Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) has asked for an adjournment, saying it cannot file a reply to Mistry’s objections until the commissioner’s order of 15 May – which bars any decision while an inquiry is pending – is lifted.

Why this matters

The trusts’ filings underscore a broader commitment to transparent governance and adherence to the statutory framework governing Indian charitable institutions. By insisting that only current trustees with a legitimate interest can raise objections, the Tata trusts aim to protect the stability of their philanthropic operations and ensure that board decisions remain focused on long‑term development goals rather than personal grievances.

The regulator’s forthcoming decision will clarify the scope of a former trustee’s legal standing under the MPT Act and could set a precedent for how Indian charitable trusts handle succession and disputes in the future.