Advocates Association of Western India Gets First Female President in 162-Year History
The Advocates’ Association of Western India (AAWI) is one of Indian’s oldest Bar Associations at the attachment of the Bombay High Court, which will see a historic change with a female advocate becoming President for the first time in its existence of 162 years. The decision of establishing a separate office of President for women lawyers came with a unanimous resolution by the Association to amend its Constitution and Rules and reserve the post for women lawyers for every three-term period.
AAWI has been an integral part of the history of Indian Law since its inception in 1864. The President of India in his speech on the 150th anniversary of the Association, called it the oldest Bar Association in the country and an institution which played a significant role in the legal and political history of India.
The constitutional amendment was passed at the Special General Body Meeting on 21st August 2026, on recommendations of a Committee on Constitutional Amendment set up earlier in August. The new guidelines will allow for the office of President to be occupied by a female lawyer one-third of the terms, starting with the next term of elections. According to reports, a woman who wants to challenge for the reserved seat of president will need to be at least 20 years in the legal profession.
The reform isn’t limited to the presidency. The Association has also taken steps to introduce more women in other leadership positions such as that of the Secretary, Joint Secretary and Executive Council. The current policy of ensuring a seat in the Vice-President for women will stay in place introduced in 2018.
The development is part of the overall principle of equality which is enshrined in Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The State is entitled to provide special provision for women and children under Article 15(3) and accord them equality before the law and equal protection of laws under Article 14. AAWI is a professional association and not a governmental organization, but its internal institutional change, is an effort to rectify gender imbalance in leadership.
This shift is even more notable given the fact that women are significantly under-represented in the ranks of senior lawyers in the profession despite the growing number of women in attendance at the Bar. Having representation at the lower level doesn’t necessarily mean having representation at the top. Structural measures in the professional bodies may therefore offer potential opportunities to improve opportunities for women lawyers in decision making.
The Supreme Court has also recognised the importance of greater representation of women in Bar Associations. Over the last few years, the Court has promoted efforts to enhance women’s representation in Bar leadership and Bar Boards. In this context, AAWI’s decision is part of a larger trend of increasing representation and diversity of legal institutions.
Meanwhile, the placing of leadership roles in reservations can raise an important discussion of merit and affirmative representation. Some critics might also say that professional offices should be elected only and without gender-based reservations. Backers, however, can argue that while formal equality is not enough, it must be coupled with efforts to achieve meaningful representation when it has been thwarted by historical and structural barriers.
The AAWI model tries to reconcile these factors by maintaining the presidency by holding it for just three terms, instead of indefinitely for women. It also gives wider representation in various executive positions, not just in the top one. Thus, the importance of this decision goes beyond one Bar Association. The package of measures initiated by AAWI could prompt other professional organizations to review the question of “whether women lawyers are truly in access to the institutional leadership”. A more diverse Bar leadership can also play a role in broader discussions regarding the workplace, career opportunities, safety, mentorship and equal participation.
In conclusion, the decision is a significant milestone in the legal profession in India. AAWI has decided to change its institutional setup to ensure that a woman lawyer will lead the Association, after 162 years without a woman President. The reform confirms that gender parity in the legal profession is not just about the proportion of women in law but also about the effective representation of women in roles where professional decisions are taken.
