Supreme Court To Hear Tata Sons Plea Challenging NCLAT Decision On Cyrus Mistry

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Friday the petition by Tata Sons Private Ltd (TSPL) challenging the NCLAT decision restoring Cyrus Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata Group.

The matter is listed before a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde, and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant; a battery of top senior advocates is likely to represent both the sides.

Sources said Tatas have roped in senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, Harish Salve, Mukul Rohatgi and Mohan Parasaran to argue the case.

"We will seek stay of the NCLAT decision in toto," one of the sources said.

TSPL has challenged the December 18 decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that gave a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mr Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL.

Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd, Mistry and other respondents who have filed a caveat that no ex-parte order be passed in the matter will be represented by senior advocates C A Sundaram, Arvind Datar, Shyam Divan and Somasekhar Sundareshan.

The NCLAT also ruled that the appointment of N Chandrasekaran as head of the holding company of the USD 110-billion salt-to-software conglomerate was illegal.

The Tatas submitted the verdict by the NCLAT "undermined corporate democracy" and the "rights" of its board of directors.

While the petition has been pending, Mr Mistry came out with a statement on Sunday saying that he is not interested in returning to the Tata Group and the decision was made in the interest of the Group, whose interests are far more important than interests of any individual.

"To dispel the misinformation campaign being conducted, I intend to make it clear that despite the NCLAT order in my favour, I will not be pursuing the executive chairmanship of Tata Sons, or directorship of TCS, Tata Teleservices or Tata Industries.

"I will however vigorously pursue all options to protect our rights as a minority shareholder, including that of resuming the thirty-year history of a seat at the Board of Tata Sons and the incorporation of the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency at Tata Sons," he said.

In the last three years, both in conduct and in their statements to the world at large, Tata Group's leadership has shown scant respect for the rights of minority shareholders, Mr Mistry said, adding that it is time the Group's management introspects and reflects on its conduct as it embarks on future actions.

"I am humbled by the NCLAT order, which after review of the enormous material on record, recognized the illegal manner in which I was removed and the oppressive and prejudicial conduct of Mr. Tata and other Trustees," he said.

TSPL, formerly known as Tata Sons Limited, has sought setting aside of NCLAT's judgment in "toto", alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".

NCLAT held the group's chairman emeritus Mr Ratan Tata's actions against Mistry were oppressive and the appointment of a new chairman was illegal.

It, however, stayed operation of its order with respect to Mr Mistry's reinstatement for four weeks to allow TSPL to file an appeal in the top court.

"In other words, far from putting an end to the alleged acts complained of, the judgment (of the NCLAT) has sown the seeds for a never-ending discord and conflict between the shareholders of the appellant (TSPL), creating a recipe for an unmitigated disaster," it said.

The plea raised questions of law and said the order restoring Mr Mistry to his "original position" as the executive chairman of TSPL for the "rest of the tenure" was illegal as his tenure "stood extinguished in March 2017".

The plea termed "illegal" NCLAT''s declaration that Mr Chandrasekaran's appointment as the chairman of TSPL was wrong and claimed he was appointed "in accordance with the articles and duly approved by the board and shareholders".

It alleged the NCLAT granted reliefs, which were not even sought, to Mr Mistry.

"Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry specifically pleaded before the NCLAT that they are not seeking reinstatement of Mr Mistry. The tenure of Mr Mistry as the chairman and director of Tata Sons expired in March 2017 and thus, for good reason, the respondents did not seek such reinstatement," the plea said.

"Mr Mistry was replaced as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, 2016, by the majority of its board of directors (all directors voted in favour of the replacement, except one who abstained from voting and the remaining one was Mr Mistry himself) for loss of confidence and the impugned judgment, by restoring Mr Mistry to the position as chairman, has undermined corporate democracy and rights of the board of directors," the plea said.

It said Mr Mistry was removed following the procedure applicable to corporate appointments, as envisaged in law.

The plea alleged it was nobody's case that Mr Mistry's removal had resulted in any serious prejudice being caused to the working of Tata Sons and it "violated law or any contract".

Mr Mistry, scion of the wealthy Shapoorji Pallonji family, had in December 2012 succeeded Mr Ratan Tata as the executive chairman of Tata Sons, a post that also made him the head of all Tata Group-listed firms such as Tata Power and Tata Motors.

The NCLAT directed Tata Sons to not take any action against Mr Mistry, whose family owns some 18 per cent interest in the company. The remaining 81 per cent is held by Tata Trusts and Tata Group companies, along with members of the Tata family.