Tata Sons has formally rejected a request from Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata for audio-video recordings of the board meeting held on September 17. The company’s response, delivered via a letter from company secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay on November 9, clarified that the conglomerate has no established practice of sharing recordings from in-person board sessions. This refusal intensifies the ongoing governance dispute between Tata Sons and its largest shareholder, Tata Trusts, over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as chairman.
The board meeting resulted in a 4:1 vote in favor of Chandrasekaran’s third term, with Noel Tata serving as the sole dissenter. Following the meeting, Noel Tata sought the recordings through a series of communications to challenge the proceedings. In his reply, Mukhopadhyay stated that video recording is only mandated when one or more directors attend online. He emphasized that the company has never previously shared audio or video recordings of in-person meetings, nor is it required to retain or share them with any directors under current protocols.
Beyond the recording dispute, the November 9 correspondence addressed the procedural validity of Chandrasekaran’s reappointment. The letter confirmed that the Registrar of Companies was informed about the reappointment in accordance with Section 117 of the Companies Act, which allows a 30-day window for such disclosures. Tata Sons also noted that draft minutes of the meeting were uploaded to the board’s application on October 1, with required changes incorporated after a reply was received on October 8. A copy of the amended minutes is scheduled for upload ahead of the next board meeting for confirmation.
The conflict stems from deeper disagreements regarding the group’s strategic direction. Noel Tata has opposed Chandrasekaran’s reappointment, citing concerns over the delayed listing of Tata Sons and the financial performance of recent ventures, including the digital foray, Air India, and the electronics business. Chandrasekaran has countered that the listing is now mandatory following a Reserve Bank of India mandate. Additionally, Tata Sons denied any conflict of interest regarding Venu Srinivasan, a Tata Trusts nominee who voted in favor of Chandrasekaran, despite existing business dealings between their families. Emails sent to both Tata Sons and Tata Trusts for further comment went unanswered.