GUIDELINES FOR EDITORS

ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR EDITORS

• Editors should read and understand our ethics policy and follow them during all editorial processes ensuring the maintenance of the highest quality of academic integrity in publications. Editors should ensure that the research work submitted for publication complies with the requirements of the journal.
• Editors should do a rigorous, objective and confidential review of all original research submissions that pass the initial quality check and editorial assessment. The initial quality check should also include an originality check using plagiarism detection software amongst other appropriate methods. Research work that does not pass the initial test need not be considered for publication. However, the Editor needs to inform the author stating the reason for rejection.
• Editors should provide the best care to the authors. All publication processes should be transparent and any queries from the authors regarding the publication process should be answered in a timely manner. Editors should communicate all editorial decisions regarding a research work submitted for publication to the respective author and give the authors the chance to appeal against the same.
• All research work submitted for publication should be subjected to a double-blind peer review and the review report should be submitted to the publisher for archival purposes. Any work that does not need a peer review should be accompanied by an editorial note that justifies its selection for publication.
• Editors should ensure that the reviewers submit their reviews in the format given by the publisher and the review is done within a month from the receipt of the article. If the review report is not received and forwarded to the author within a month, the editor should inform the author on the reason for delay.
• Editors need to keep the publishers informed of all editorial decisions and submit all relevant documents supporting the same. Any discrepancy, misrepresentation or insufficiency in copyright permissions procured by a research work sent for publication, as identified by the editor, should be brought to the notice of the publisher.
• Any article found using false data or has a detrimental impact on society should not be considered for publication. In case it is found after publication, the editors should publish an erratum or corrigendum or retract the article depending on the seriousness of the issue.