Business & Finance
Khambata Declines Reappointment as Tata Trusts Trustee, Criticizes Board Actions
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Darius Khambata has decided not to seek another term as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the two main Tata Trusts. In a four‑page letter to Noel Tata, the Trusts’ chair, and chief executive officer Siddharth Sharma, Khambata condemned the actions of Tata Sons directors on 17 September 2026, calling the day “a day that will live in infamy.” He accused the Tata Sons board and fellow trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh of acting against the Trusts’ interests and of supporting a vote that helped Tata Sons chair Chandrasekaran secure a third term. Khambata also criticized Srinivasan for ignoring the Trust’s instructions a day before the 17 September meeting. He noted that in April 2026, Srinivasan and Singh had publicly expressed support for listing Tata Sons, contrary to unanimous resolutions they had previously supported, and had not explained their change of stance to the other trustees. Khambata’s tenure at both Trusts, which own 27.98 % and 23.56 % of Tata Sons respectively, ends later this week. With his departure, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust will have five trustees and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust will have four. The letter was sent weeks before a 26 November Tata Sons board meeting, after Noel Tata had written to the board on 26 October challenging the validity of the 17 September resolution. Noel Tata will step down from six group company boards on 12 November when he turns 70, but he will remain on the Tata Sons board. Khambata concluded that the history of the Tata model, as envisioned by Ratan Tata, will judge whether those entrusted with it can rise above personal interest.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Darius Khambata decide not to seek another term as trustee?
He chose not to seek reappointment as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, citing concerns over actions of Tata Sons directors and trustees.
What actions did Khambata criticize in his letter?
He condemned the actions of Tata Sons directors on 17 September 2026, accused the board and trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh of acting against the Trusts’ interests and supporting a vote that helped Tata Sons chair Chandrasekaran secure a third term; he also criticized Srinivasan for ignoring the Trust’s instructions a day before the meeting and for publicly supporting listing Tata Sons in April 2026 contrary to prior resolutions.
How many trustees will each Tata Trust have after Khambata's departure?
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust will have five trustees; Sir Ratan Tata Trust will have four.