The Sir Ratan Tata Trust has postponed a crucial board meeting scheduled for Saturday. This meeting aimed to appoint Neville Tata, son of Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata, as a trustee. Sources confirm the cancellation occurred due to insufficient attendance.
Second Setback for Neville Tata's Induction
This development marks the second unsuccessful attempt to bring Neville Tata onto the SRTT board within just over two months. The trust holds a significant 23.6 percent stake in Tata Sons, the core promoter entity of the massive Tata Group valued over USD 180 billion.
A person directly aware of the situation explained the reason. "All trustees could not attend, which is a requirement for trustee appointment," the source stated. The individual added that the meeting might be rescheduled in the coming days.
Behind the Scenes: Seeking Consensus
However, other insiders suggest a different motive for the delay. They believe the cancellation provides more time for trustees to discuss and build a consensus regarding the appointment. The Tata Trusts organization did not respond to queries on this matter.
The current board of SRTT includes several prominent figures:
- Noel Tata
- Venu Srinivasan
- Vijay Singh
- Jimmy N Tata
- Jehangir HC Jehangir
- Darius Khambata
Previous Appointment and Regulatory Hurdles
In November last year, Neville Tata and former Tata group executive Bhaskar Bhat successfully joined the Sri Dorabji Tata Trust. That trust owns an even larger 28 percent share in Tata Sons. Their appointment to SRTT, however, faced obstacles at that time.
Reports indicate trustee Venu Srinivasan raised an objection previously. This context adds complexity to the current situation. Srinivasan's own position underwent review recently. Trustees unanimously appointed him as a lifelong trustee in October 2025.
Subsequently, authorities revisited this appointment. They acted to ensure compliance with updated legal and regulatory standards. The Maharashtra government amended the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act in September 2025.
The revised law introduced new limits. It restricts the number of lifetime trustees to only one-fourth of a board's total strength. Furthermore, the amendment mandates fixed terms for trustees where the original trust deed remains silent on tenure.
Other Tata-affiliated trusts collectively hold an additional 13.8 percent stake in Tata Sons. The succession and governance within these influential charitable trusts continue to draw significant attention in corporate circles.
