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With Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran stepping down as the Tata Group’s top executive, a question is growing louder in legal circles: can the trustees of Tata Trusts continue to occupy seats on the conglomerate’s highest decision-making bodies while simultaneously lodging complaints against the very institution they help govern?

This question lies at the heart of the governance battle that has engulfed Tata Trusts and, by extension, Tata Sons.

The controversy centres around two influential trustees, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, both of whom participated in key decision making at Tata Trusts and Tata Sons, including the decision to keep Tata Sons unlisted. Yet both later emerged as advocates for listing the holding company, putting them at odds with Tata Trusts and triggering one of the most significant governance disputes in the Tata ecosystem since Ratan Tata’s death in October 2024.

According to insiders familiar with developments within Tata Trusts, the first signs of trouble became apparent after Ratan’s death. They say Mehli Mistry, a close friend of the late Ratan and a Tata trustee at the time, became increasingly vocal about governance issues within the trusts. Among other things, Mistry questioned why Singh continued on the Tata Sons board despite being older than 75 years. Mistry openly criticised, even mocked, certain decisions taken by the trustees.

Tata Trusts can appoint one-third of Tata Sons directors and wield veto powers over Tata Sons’ decisions, as per Tata Sons Articles of Association.

Singh eventually stepped down from the Tata Sons board in September last year. According to people familiar with the matter, both Mistry and former banker and Tata Trusts trustee Pramit Jhaveri were viewed as potential candidates for the vacancy. However, sources say there was little enthusiasm within the Tata ecosystem for either appointment.

The period immediately after Ratan’s death was itself marked by delicate negotiations. According to insiders, trustees unanimously agreed to appointing Noel Tata as the chairman of Tata Trusts. However, the rest of the the trustees also sought lifetime trusteeship. Discussions over trustee tenure took place simultaneously, laying the foundation for future disagreements over governance and succession.

Why the conflict escalated after Singh’s departure

According to sources, Mistry became increasingly critical of several trustees, including Srinivasan. Matters........

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