The Maharashtra government was criticized by Bombay HC for the delay in taking action against Johnson & Johnson

Maharashtra government has been cautioned by the Bombay High Court for delaying action against Johnson & Johnson Private Limited for manufacturing allegedly poor quality baby powder.

In a bench comprising Justices GS Patel and SG Dige, the counsel for the state, Milind More, was asked to explain why an order canceling the cosmetic manufacturing license of the company's baby powder facility in Maharashtra took more than two years.

As a result of COVID-19, More argued that the department could not take swift action. However, the bench rejected this argument.

A petition filed by Johnson & Johnson through Nishith Desai & Associates challenging the cancellation of Johnson & Johnson's license by the Joint Commissioner & Licensing Authority, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra on September 15, 2022, was being heard by the Bench.

Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, arguing for Johnson & Johnson, referred to the three laboratory reports the High Court had requested on November 16 last year. The reports indicated that the baby powder samples were compliant with standards.

Upon reviewing the report and the orders under challenge, the Court discovered that both orders were based on rules declared obsolete by the Central government in 2021.

More further requested time to take instructions on the testing aspect. The Bench adjourned the matter until January 6.