‘Nobody is bigger than the institution’: Mehli Mistry exits Tata Trusts; urges transparency and good governance in farewell note

Mehli Mistry has formally stepped down as trustee of the Tata Trusts, ending days of speculation over his position within the organisation. In a letter to all trustees, including chairman Noel Tata, Mistry cited his commitment to Ratan N Tata’s vision as the reason for his decision to withdraw, ANI reported.In his note, Mistry said his loyalty to Ratan Tata’s ideals came with a responsibility to prevent the Tata Trusts from being drawn into controversy. He added that any escalation of internal matters could cause “irreparable harm” to the reputation of the trusts.“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. Mistry closed the letter with a quote from Ratan Tata: “Nobody is bigger than the institution it serves.”Mistry’s role as trustee officially ended on October 27 this year. A resolution passed by the Board of Trustees on October 17 last year had proposed his reappointment as a lifetime trustee, but the move was not approved after three trustees opposed it.He had earlier filed a caveat with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, seeking a hearing before any change was made to the list of trustees.With this letter, Mistry has made his exit official, closing the chapter on his association with the Tata Trusts.