Who is Abhishek Manu Singhvi? The lawyer who fought for Tata Sons against Mistry is now fighting it | Today’s news
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has emerged as one of the key legal figures in the escalating dispute between Tata Trusts and Tata Sons.
Led by Neol Tata Tata Trusts has appointed Singhvi to represent it in opposition to the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as chairman of Tata Sons and the proposed listing of the Tata group holding company.
The trusts, which hold about 66% of Tata Sons, have challenged the September 17 board resolution re-appointing Chandrasekaran for another five-year term.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been appointed to represent the Tata Trusts in their legal challenge against the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as chairman of Tata Sons, challenging the legitimacy of the September 17 board resolution.
The Tata Trusts contend that the board’s resolution re-appointing Chandrasekaran was invalid as it did not receive the necessary support from the two directors appointed by the Trust as required by the Articles of Association of Tata Sons.
Singhvi’s previous role on the Tata side during the Cyrus Mistry case lends significant weight to his current representation of the Tata Trusts as it demonstrates his deep understanding of the governance issues at stake.
The legal dispute may lead to a court intervention to either confirm or annul Chandrasekaran’s reappointment, which could significantly affect corporate governance and shareholder rights within the Tata group.
The decision to list Tata Sons publicly remains controversial; Tata Trusts argues that existing governance structures should be respected, while Tata Sons sees listing as essential to strengthen corporate governance.
Singhvi said he entered the controversy with “sadness and regret”, referring to his association with the late Ratan Tata.
His appointment is also notable as he was part of the Tata party’s legal team during the earlier Tata Sons-Cyrus Mistry dispute. He now represents the Tata Trusts in a new battle to manage and control the group.
Who is Abhishek Manu Singhvi?
Singhvi is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court and a senior Congress politician. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha representing Telangana and has held several important parliamentary and organizational posts in the Congress.
Singhvi became the youngest Additional Attorney General of India in 1997, at the age of 37, and served in that position from 1997 to 1998.
His father, Laxmi Mall Singhvi, was a noted lawyer, diplomat and MP who served as the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and was also a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Singhvi studied at St Columba’s School and St Stephen’s College, Delhi, where he completed a BA (Hons) in Economics. He later went on to postgraduate studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he received an MA and a PhD.
He also participated in the Public International Law Summer Program at Harvard University.
Read also | Noel Tata questions the legality of Chandra’s third term at Tata Sons
Singhvi’s landmark legal cases
Tata vs Cyrus Mistry
Singhvi’s current role in the Tata dispute is particularly notable because of his earlier involvement in the Tata Sons-Cyrus Mistry case.
He was part of the legal team representing the Tata side after Mistry was removed as chairman of Tata Sons. The dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court, which in 2021 upheld the Tata Sons board’s decision to remove Mistry and examined the role and rights of the Tata Trusts under the Tata Sons articles of association.
The National Herald case
Singhvi represented senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, in proceedings related to the National Herald case involving Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) and Young Indian.
The case involved proceedings by investigating agencies and legal challenges related to the AJL and Young Indian matters, making Singhvi one of the Congress’s leading lawyers on the matter.
The DK Basu case and custody rights
Singhvi is also linked to DK Basu’s long-running custodial violence and human rights lawsuit.
In the subsequent proceedings in the case, the Supreme Court appointed Singhvi as amicus curiae. He presented proposals that sought further directions and measures to strengthen safeguards against abuse in custody and improve the implementation of human rights protections.
The original DK Basu judgment remains a landmark in safeguards against custodial torture and illegal detention.
2017 Jallikattu case
Singhvi represented the Animal Welfare Council of India in legal disputes related to Jallikattu in 2017.
The proceedings of the Supreme Court dealt with issues surrounding animal cruelty, the legality of this practice and the subsequent legislation aimed at its authorization or regulation.
The case of the national flag
Another notable case associated with Singhvi is Union of India v. Naveen Jindal, regarding the right of citizens to fly the national flag.
Singhvi appeared for Naveen Jindal before the Supreme Court. The court ruled that displaying the national flag is protected as an aspect of freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a). a), subject to reasonable restrictions.
Battles for telecom spectrum
Singhvi has also been associated with some of India’s biggest telecom companies and major controversies that have shaped the sector. Over the years, he has represented companies including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular in litigation on issues such as spectrum charges, revenue sharing arrangements, 3G intra-circle roaming agreements, license renewals and the wider legal impact of the 2G spectrum dispute.
Delhi Excise Case
Singhvi was also the defense counsel for Aam Aadmi Party leaders in the Delhi Excise Tax policy case.
Represented former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in their challenge to the CBI arrest and their bail pleas in the Supreme Court.
‘Modi Surname’ defamation case
Singhvi represented Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case that led to his conviction and subsequent disqualification from the Lok Sabha in 2023.
The Supreme Court subsequently stayed Gandhi’s conviction, paving the way for the restoration of his parliamentary membership.
PMLA Challenges
Singhvi has also been involved in major legal challenges to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and its stringent bail provisions.
He argued against the strict “double conditions” for bail under Section 45 of the PMLA and challenged enforcement powers in major Supreme Court cases including Vijay Madanlal Choudhary v Union of India.
