Tata Trust Board Member Venu Srinivasan Steps Down from Bai Hirabai Charitable Trust

Venu Srinivasan Steps Down from Tata Trust Amid Governance Dispute

Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor and Vice Chairman of seven Tata Group trusts, has stepped down as a trustee from the Bai Hirabai Charitable Trust, citing his preoccupation with other business commitments. The resignation comes at a time when the trust is embroiled in a legal dispute over the eligibility of trustees.

The dispute centers around the qualifications required for appointment to the trust's board. Mehli Mistry, a former trustee, has filed an objection-application with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, questioning the eligibility of Srinivasan and fellow trustee Vijay Singh. Mistry argues that neither Srinivasan nor Singh meet the qualifications required for appointment and are therefore expressly disqualified under the Trust Deed.

The Trust Deed requires trustees to be of the Parsi Zoroastrian faith and hold permanent residence in Mumbai. Mistry claims that both Srinivasan and Singh do not meet these conditions, which are mandatory for trusteeship. He has sought a suo motu inquiry by the State Charity Commissioner and called on the authority to direct all trustees to file affidavits confirming their eligibility.

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The dispute has added a fresh dimension to the ongoing internal tensions within the Tata Trusts structure. This is not the first time Mistry has raised governance objections within the Tata Trusts ecosystem. In February 2026, he flagged concerns over a separate matter while serving as a trustee on the board of the Tata Education and Development Trust (TEDT).

The Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution (BHJTNCI) was established in 1923 and is a philanthropic institution focused on Parsi and community welfare in Navsari, Gujarat. It forms part of the allied Tata Trusts and shares a common Board of Trustees with the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.