In a first, Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI) a lawyers association in the Bombay High Court, will now get a Woman Advocate as its President, in its existence of 162 years.

This comes after AAWI amended its Constitution and Rules to reserve the post of its President for women lawyers.

Confirming the development, senior advocate Deepa Chawan said that this is a significant development as it would help women lawyers to now lead one of the oldest Bar Associations in the country.

"In 162 years of AAWI we would have a women president at the helm it is almost like a pathbreaking building an equality... skewed ratio of women as members it's a big step towards equality.. Definitely a milestone for women... In 2018 itself AAWI had reserved ," Chawan said.

In an official statement issued by AAWI President Prashant Relekar, it has been resolved that the post of President would be reserved for woman lawyers.

"The AAWI, one of the oldest association of lawyers in India, established in 1864, has unanimously resolved to amend its Constitution and Rules to reserve the post of President — the highest office in its Executive Council — for women members, effective from the very next election. 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," an official statement from AAWI reads.

The resolution follows consideration of a report submitted by AAWI's Constitutional Amendment Committee, chaired by AAWI President Prashant Relekar, which was tasked with recommending amendments to broaden the participation of women in the Association's executive leadership. This Committee was constituted at AAWI's Special General Body Meeting held on August 9, 2026.

"Beyond the Presidency, the Committee recommended reservations for the posts of Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Members of the Executive Council, extending the principle of gender representation across the Association's leadership structure. This latest reform builds on AAWI's earlier initiative in 2018, when it reserved the posts of Vice-President and two Executive Council Members for women — a step that laid the foundation for today's more far-reaching change," the AAWI statement said.