Tata Trust Row: Mehli Mistry Questions Eligibility of Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh

There is a huge controversy surrounding the administration of trusts associated with the Tata group. One-time trustees of three major Tata trusts, Mehli Mistry, have filed a petition against the appointments and duties of trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh for the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution on Friday. According to him, both men are ineligible for the positions they hold, and their appointment violates the provisions of the trust deed made in 1923.

Currently, Venu Srinivasan, who is the Emeritus Chairman of TVS Motors, and Vijay Singh, an ex-IAS officer, serve as the vice chairmen of the trust. Mehli Mistry argues that, according to clauses 6 and 18 of the deed, any disqualified trustee should be deemed dead. Mistry's main claim is that Srinivasan and Singh are not followers of the Parsi Zoroastrian religion and do not have a permanent residence in Mumbai. According to the trust deed, both of these qualifications are mandatory to become trustees, and failing to do so would automatically disqualify them.

Mistry has requested the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner to take suo motu cognizance of the matter and initiate a detailed investigation. He has also requested that all trustees be directed to submit affidavits confirming their religious and residential eligibility. Mistry alleges that the appointment of these ineligible individuals constitutes fraud and criminal breach of trust, which amounts to mismanagement under the Indian Penal Code (BNS) 2024 and the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. He contends that any action taken by them as trustees is legally void.