'Nobody Bigger Than Institution': Mehli Mistry Pens Exit Note To Trustees At Tata Trusts

Bringing an end to the speculation around his trusteeship at the Tata Trusts, former trustee Mehli Mistry officially parted ways with the Tata Group on Tuesday.

In a parting note he penned for the trustees, Mehli Mistry stressed that “nobody is bigger than the institution it serves”.

Mistry made what looked like a harmonious exit citing commitment to the late Ratan N Tata. He addressed his letter to

all trustees of the Tata Trusts, including chairman Noel Tata.

“… I have been made aware of the recent reportage surrounding my trusteeship in the Tata Trusts, upon my return to Mumbai last night. I believe that this letter should assist in putting the quietus on speculative news reports that do not serve the interests of the Tata Trusts and are inimical

to its vision… I part ways with a quote that Ratan N Tata used to say to me, ‘Nobody is bigger than the institution it serves…’,” read Mistry’s letter.

In his letter, he expressed that his commitment to Ratan N Tata’s vision includes a responsibility to ensure that the Tata Trusts are not plunged into controversy and that precipitating matters will cause irreparable harm to its reputation.

“Therefore, in the spirit of Mr Ratan N Tata, who always put public interest before his own, I hope that the actions of the other trustees going forward will be guided by the principles of transparency, good governance, and public interest,” he wrote.

On October 27, the former trustee’s role came to an end and, as per the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Tata Trusts taken on October 17 last year, he was to be reappointed as a lifetime trustee. But three trustees did not the reappointment to the two key trusts, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust. He had also filed a preemptive caveat with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, requesting that he be granted a hearing before any modifications are made to the list of trustees.

(With agency inputs)