The Maharashtra government on Thursday told the Bombay High Court it had cancelled the licence of Johnson & Johnson Pvt Ltd (J&J) to manufacture baby powder at its plant in suburban Mulund keeping in mind the welfare and health of consumers.

The government made the submission before a two-judge bench in an affidavit submitted in response to a petition filed by the multi-national company challenging two official orders -- one dated September 15 cancelling the manufacturing licence and the other of September 20 ordering J&J to immediately stop manufacturing and sale of its baby powder.