AAWI Reserves President's Post for Women Lawyers

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 28 August 2026

The Advocates' Association of Western India (AAWI) has approved a landmark decision to reserve its president’s post for women lawyers, making it the first bar association in India to introduce such a provision. The reservation will come into effect from the next election and will apply once in every three election cycles.

The decision was unanimously approved at a special general body meeting held on August 21, where members adopted amendments to the association’s Rules and Constitution.

Under the revised rules, the secretary’s post will also be reserved for women during the first of the two presidential terms that are not reserved for women. The move is aimed at increasing women’s representation in leadership positions within the legal profession.

“In its 162 years of existence, AAWI has never had a woman occupy the post of President. Today's decision marks a historic and long-overdue correction, ensuring that a woman member will lead the Association once in every three terms," a statement by the bar association said.

The move to Rule 3(a) is proposing to have a woman member of the association as president every term of office. This reservation will be applied to the following term, if the term is applied without reservation.

Key Highlights:

• AAWI will reserve its president’s post for women once every three terms
• The secretary’s post and four executive council seats will also be reserved for women
• AAWI became the first Indian bar association to reserve its president’s post for women

The new framework also requires changes to other positions as office-bearers. A change to Rule 3(c) would require that the secretary's position be held by a woman member of the association for the first of the two non-reserved presidential terms.

The association has continued to hold onto the current female vice-president's seat, following a 2018 reform that reserved the vice-president's seat and two executive council seats for female members.

The 2026 amendment further increases the executive council's membership from 8 to 9 regular members. The proposed Rule 3(f) will require that the council have 4 women members, with 2 of the 5 members with at least 7 years practice to be women.

“The Supreme Court mandated 30% reservation for women in Bar associations. So we took up the task, and became the first association to pass this resolution. Also, for the first time in the history of the country, a female will be leading a Bar association!” he said.

The resolution was passed following recommendations from a Constitutional Committee constituted on August 9 to broaden women’s participation in executive leadership. Vice President Prachi Tatake elaborated that the Committee included senior advocates, both men and women, who gave their suggestions.

“The resolutions are passed on the basis of the recommendations of the said senior advocates,” Tatake said. “Maharashtra has always been a progressive State and I had no doubt the resolution would be unanimous," she said.

On what would be the course of action if no woman is available to hold the post, Tatake said that efforts would ensure such a situation does not arise.

“Right now there is no provision for such a scenario, but in the event, if it happens, then we can hold a special general body meeting and think about it. But I am sure that such a scenario never arises!” she said.

“AAWI has perhaps provided the most comprehensive and effective reservation to women advocates in the country,” AAWI member advocate Sonal said.

"This is not merely a change in leadership; it is a moment that reflects progress, inclusivity, and confidence in the leadership of women," Suresh Sabrad, the secretary of AAWI said.