The Powerlifting Association had filed a writ in the Orissa High Court seeking directions to the State Government to give effect to the provisions of Orissa Sports Authorities Act, 1994 which states that the Government should constitute the Sports Authority of Orissa” under Section-3 of the Orissa Sports Authorities Act, 1994.
Under Section-4 of the Orissa Sports Authorities Act, 1994, the sports body so constituted shall be the, “principal policy formulating body” relating to sports.During pendency of the petition, the Sports and Youth Services Department circulated a Draft Sports Policy, 2019 to all sports Associations in the last week of August, 2020.
The Powerlifting Association challenged the same before the court on the ground that the Sports and Youth Services Department did not have power to formulate the sports policy and that such action of the department was illegal.
The court on September 23 gave liberty to the Powerlifting Association to file its objection to the Draft Sports Policy, 2019 before the department.