Maruti Wire Inds. Pvt. Ltd vs S.T.O., Ist Circle, Mattancherry & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of penal interest under Section 23(3) of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963, determining that an assessee who fails to file a return is liable for penal interest from the due date of the return, even if no assessment order was made. The Court held that the absence of a filed return does not exempt the assessee from liability for penal interest, affirming the interpretation that the phrase 'if the tax or any other amount assessed' includes situations where no return is filed. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the demand for penal interest.