Mumbai : Mehli Mistry, a close associate of Ratan Tata, has approached the Charity Commissioner over the composition of the board of a Tata-linked charitable trust. He has challenged the decision not to renew his tenure as a trustee of the Bai Hirabai Jamshedji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution.
In his petition, Mistry argued that certain board members do not meet the eligibility criteria laid out in the trust deed, making their decisions legally invalid.
Dispute Over Trustee Renewal
Mistry was appointed as a trustee for a three-year term starting October 29, 2022. In October 2025, a proposal to renew his tenure was rejected by the board. He contends that some trustees who voted against his renewal were themselves ineligible to hold their positions.
According to reports, Mistry has also objected to the “change report” filed regarding the board composition.
Eligibility Conditions Cited from 1923 Deed
The petition refers to the original trust deed dated December 7, 1923, which lays down two key conditions for trustees:
- All trustees must be Parsis belonging to the Zoroastrian community
- They must be permanent residents within the Bombay Presidency–Navsari jurisdiction
Mistry has alleged that two current board members—Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh—do not fulfill these criteria.
Appointments Under Question
The petition states that both Srinivasan and Singh are neither Parsis nor permanent residents of Mumbai, making their appointments invalid from the outset. Mistry claims that any decisions taken by them should therefore be considered legally void.
Voting Breakdown
In the October 2025 circular resolution on Mistry’s tenure:
- Against renewal: Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh
- In favour: Jehangir C. Jehangir, Darius Khambata
- No response: Jimmy Tata
Mistry argued that if the votes of allegedly ineligible trustees are excluded, the resolution rejecting his renewal would not stand.
Governance Concerns Raised
Mistry has also questioned the functioning of the trust, stating that, to his knowledge, no official board meeting has been held in the past two years. He termed this a lack of transparency and accountability.
He has urged the Charity Commissioner to inspect the trust’s records and minute books, and to obtain affidavits from all trustees confirming whether they meet the eligibility criteria.
Call for Administrator Appointment
The petition further highlights that removing ineligible trustees could reduce the board below the mandatory minimum of five members. In such a scenario, Mistry has requested the appointment of an administrator to oversee the trust.
However, he clarified that his objective is not personal reinstatement, but the protection of the trust’s original purpose and the interests of the Parsi community.