Declaratory, as the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 is 'declaratory', the presumption against construing it retrospectively so as to respect vested rights, is not applicable. As sub-s. (3) of s. 84 in terms clarifies the meaning of the expression 'ceiling area' with reference to which certain voluntary transfers are to be invalidated, it is clearly retrospective as it is meant to invalidate the transfers made after September 15, 1963 when the Bill of 1963 was published, Chettiam Veetil Ammad v. Taluk Land Board, (1980) 1 SCC 499: AIR 1979 SC 1573: (1979) 3 SCR 839.
Explanation: clear: designed to fix or elucidate what before was uncertain or doubtful.