Tata Trusts Governance Row: Venu Srinivasan Seeks Inquiry Into Trustee Appointments

Venu Srinivasan, trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, has sought an inquiry into the governance of the two trusts, according to a CNBC-TV18 report. He has also questioned the appointments of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and his son Neville Tata.

According to the report, Srinivasan has asked that trustees be suspended or removed if an inquiry establishes grounds for such action. He has also questioned Noel Tata's status as a perpetual trustee and the basis of his appointment as chairman.

Noel Tata became chairman of Tata Trusts in October 2024 following Ratan Tata's death. The trustees had unanimously approved his appointment at the time. Neville Tata was later inducted as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust for a three-year term in November 2025.

Tata Trusts Governance Dispute

Srinivasan has also alleged that he was excluded from some key decisions. He currently serves as a trustee of both trusts and vice-chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

The dispute comes as Tata Trusts and Tata Sons face broader disagreements over governance and the future structure of the Tata Group's holding company. Tata Trusts owns 66% of Tata Sons, giving it a significant role in matters concerning the holding company.

Tata Sons Listing Plan Adds Another Layer

Tata Sons is currently classified as an Upper Layer NBFC under Reserve Bank of India rules, which brings a mandatory listing requirement. Tata Trusts has proposed restructuring Tata Sons to change its regulatory classification and potentially avoid that requirement.

The proposal involves merging Tata Electronics Systems Solutions and Tata Consulting Engineers with Tata Sons. Tata Trusts has said the restructuring would provide Tata Sons with substantial operating revenue and could result in the company no longer being classified as an NBFC or Core Investment Company.

The proposal still requires consideration by the Tata Sons board and a no-objection certificate from the RBI.

The governance disagreement also follows differences over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as Tata Sons chairman. According to the report, Tata Trusts had questioned the validity of a September 17 board resolution, arguing that it did not have the required support from both trust-nominated directors.

The latest developments highlight the increasingly complex governance questions surrounding Tata Trusts and Tata Sons as the group considers its future corporate structure.