The trusts of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Bai Hirabai Jamestji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution filed affidavits with the charity commissioner on Thursday, stating that Mistry’s trusteeship ended on Oct 28, 2025, and therefore he could not legally challenge their administration.
In its affidavit, the Bai Hirabai Tata Trust disputed Mistry’s reading of Clauses 6 and 18 of its Trust Deed, which set eligibility for trusteeship by religion and residence. The trust argued that these clauses conflict with the original Will and Codicil governing the Trust and should not be enforced.
The trust also submitted a substitution application to name Noel Tata as reporting trustee after Vijay Singh stepped down earlier in the year. Mistry petitioned the commissioner to ensure Noel met the eligibility criteria detailed in the 1923 Trust Deed, which requires a trustee to be a Parsi professing the Zoroastrian faith.
Mistry’s submission accused the Bai Hirabai board of appointing several trustees who were ineligible because they lacked the required residency in Mumbai or Navsari and did not belong to the Zoroastrian Parsi community. He demanded an affidavit from the board confirming Noel’s compliance.
Meanwhile, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust cited a May 15 order that barred it from holding any meetings, arguing that the order hampers its functioning and governance. The trust’s representative said the order was an unnecessary restriction on its operations.
The deputy charity commissioner will now review the affidavits and may schedule a hearing before issuing a final ruling. The decision will impact long‑standing trustees and could set a precedent for how private trusts are challenged in India.