Tata Trusts dispute clouds governance at Tata Sons board

A year after the death of Ratan N. Tata, the Tata Group is navigating a contentious period of leadership uncertainty as trustees who control the conglomerate's holding company face disagreements over board appointments and governance, officials and insiders said. The disputes, unfolding at Bombay House, the group’s historic Mumbai headquarters, have attracted government attention and coincide with a missed Reserve Bank of India deadline for listing certain nonbanking financial company assets in September 2025.

At the center of the current friction are decisions by the Tata Trusts, which hold a significant stake in Tata Sons, about which directors should sit on the Tata Sons board and how transparent those selections should be. Some senior trustees have urged the reappointment of Vijay Singh and called for clearer, more consistent boardroom processes. Other trustees have advocated different courses of action, reflecting a broader split over governance and strategic oversight, according to people familiar with the matter. The disagreements have prompted scrutiny from regulators and government officials because of the trusts' central role in the group and the potential impact on...