New Delhi, Sep 3: The well known industrialist and the chairman of Tata group, Ratan Tata clarified that he does not want to interfere in the process of appointing the new chairman of the company as his successor.

Tata group's holding company, Tata Sons is looking for the successor to Ratan Tata, which is expected to be finalized by Mar 2011.

The company appointed a committee in Aug 2010, comprising five members to search for the new chairman and company sources said that Ratan Tata's brother Noel Tata is known to be a strong competitor.

Expecting the panel would announce the name of the suitable person for the post by the end of 2010, Tata said, "I have chosen to stay off that (search) committee. The committee has the freedom to examine and not have anyone feel that I am driving the succession plan."

He also clearly stated that the retirement decision is his own, group has no role behind the decision.

"I don't want to leave the company in a wheel chair or in a box," Ratan Tata.

Tata, who will retire in Dec 2012, said, "looking forward to freedom to find time to do things that I always wanted to do."

OneIndia News