Tata Trusts Controversy: Venu Srinivasan resigns from Bai Heerabai Charitable Trust, former trustee Mistry had raised questions on the appointment, said- does not fulfill the eligibility conditions
The internal turmoil going on within the Tata Group is once again in the center of discussion. Venu Srinivasan, chairman emeritus of TVS Motor and vice-chairman of seven major trusts of Tata Group, on Saturday resigned from the post of trustee of Bai Heerabai Charitable Trust (BHJTNCI). Srinivasan has cited his other professional responsibilities and commitments as the reason for his resignation. But, this is the time of resignation, it has raised many questions. This resignation comes amid the ongoing legal battle and eligibility related disputes within Tata Trusts.
Srinivasan’s resignation came just a day after Mehli Mistry, a former trustee of three major Tata Group trusts, had challenged his and Vijay Singh’s eligibility.
Venu Srinivasan, vice chairman of seven Tata Group trusts and chairman emeritus of TVS Motors, on Saturday (April 4) resigned from the post of trustee of ‘Bai Heerabai Charitable Trust’ (Tata Trust). According to news agency ANI, Srinivasan cited other professional commitments as the reason behind his resignation.
Earlier, Mehli Mistry, a close associate of Ratan Tata, had approached the Charity Commissioner regarding the board composition of the charitable trust associated with the Tata Group. Mistry had challenged the decision of not renewing his tenure as trustee of ‘Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution’.
He has claimed in his petition that some of the board members do not have eligibility as per the rules of the trust deed, hence the decisions taken by them are not legally valid.
Venu Srinivasan is counted among the most trusted associates of Tata Group. He is not only playing an important role in many trusts of the group, but is also considered close to Ratan Tata. In such a situation, his resignation is being seen as a big development in the corporate world.
Mehli Mistry was appointed trustee for a three-year term from October 29, 2022. A proposal for renewal of his tenure came in October 2025, which was rejected by the board of the trust.
Mistry argues that some of the trustees who voted against him are themselves not entitled to hold that position. Former Tata Trust trustee Mehli Mistry has challenged the appointment of Venu Srinivasan and co-trustee Vijay Singh in Tata Trusts. In his application to the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, Mistry has raised questions over the eligibility of Srinivasan and Singh for appointment to the Trust Board. Mistry claims that both these officers do not fulfill the basic conditions and qualifications which are mandatory to become a trustee under the Trust Deed. According to the petition, two mandatory conditions have been set in this deed to become a trustee…
- All trustees must be Parsi Zoroastrians.
- They must be permanent residents of Bombay Presidency-Navsari jurisdiction.
- Mistry alleges that two current board members, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, do not fulfill these conditions.
The petition directly states that Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh have never been of Parsi Zoroastrian religion and can never be. Apart from this, Mistry alleged that both of them are not even permanent residents of Mumbai. Mistry claims that his appointments were not correct from the beginning, hence any work done by him is not legally valid.
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