New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday agreed to hear Cyrus Mistry’s plea seeking to expunge remarks made against him by the top court in a verdict upholding Tata Group’s decision to remove him as its chairman, according to news agency ANI.
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, Justice A S Bopanna, and Justice Hima Kohli, decided to hear the matter after 10 days.
The SC was to hear the review petition filed by Shapoorji Pallonji Group challenging its order in the dispute between Tata Sons and Cyrus Mistry in an open court on March 9. A three-judge Bench said, “Applications seeking oral hearing of the review petitions are allowed. List the review petitions on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.”
According a report by LiveLaw, during the hearing senior advocate Janak Dwarkadas appearing for Mistry submitted that certain remarks were made against him in the final judgment and comments affect his reputation, integrity and character. Senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for Tata Sons opposed the plea arguing that they are challenging the maintainability of the application.
The top court in its March 26, 2021 judgment had set aside the December 2019 order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) which had reinstated Cyrus Mistry as the chairperson of Tata Sons.
In its December 2019 verdict, the NCLAT had held that the proceedings of the Board meeting of Tata Sons held on October 24, 2016, removing Cyrus Mistry as chairperson was illegal. Shapoorji Pallonji Group and Cyrus Mistry had approached the apex court in April 2021, seeking a review of its March 26 judgment endorsing the Tata Son’s decision to remove him as the chairperson.
Cyrus Mistry, the sixth chairperson of Tata Sons, was ousted from his position in October 2016. He had taken over as the chairman in December 2012 after Ratan Tata announced his retirement. After Mistry, N Chandrasekaran took over as executive chairman of Tata Sons.