📜 PUBLICATION ETHICS & MALPRACTICE STATEMENT
Srinagar Law Journal (SLJ)
🏛️ INTRODUCTION
Srinagar Law Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, and academic responsibility.
This statement outlines the ethical duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, and reviewers.
The Journal adopts principles consistent with internationally recognized best practices in academic publishing, including those advocated by the Committee on Publication Ethics.
⚖️ DUTIES OF AUTHORS
1. Originality & Plagiarism
- Authors must ensure that submissions are original works.
- Proper acknowledgment must be given to the work of others.
- Plagiarism in any form, including verbatim copying or paraphrasing without attribution, is strictly prohibited.
2. Multiple / Concurrent Submissions
- Submissions must not be under consideration with any other publication at the time of submission.
- Duplicate or redundant publication is not permitted.
3. Accuracy of Content
- Authors are responsible for the accuracy of legal propositions, citations, and references.
- Any errors discovered post-publication must be promptly notified to the Editorial Board.
4. Authorship
- Authorship must be limited to those who have made substantial contributions to the work.
- All co-authors must consent to submission and publication.
5. Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must disclose any conflict of interest that may influence the content or interpretation of the work.
✍️ DUTIES OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD
1. Publication Decisions
- The Editorial Board is responsible for deciding which submissions are accepted for publication.
- Decisions shall be based on legal merit, relevance, originality, and clarity.
2. Fair Evaluation
- Submissions shall be evaluated without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or professional status.
3. Confidentiality
- Editors shall not disclose information about a submission to anyone other than those involved in the editorial process.
4. Conflict of Interest
- Editors shall recuse themselves from handling submissions where a conflict of interest exists.
5. Integrity of the Record
- The Editorial Board shall take reasonable steps to correct errors, issue clarifications, or retract content where necessary.
🔍 DUTIES OF REVIEWERS (WHERE APPLICABLE)
1. Confidentiality
- Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.
2. Objectivity
- Reviews must be conducted objectively, with clear and reasoned observations.
3. Acknowledgment of Sources
- Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the author.
4. Conflict of Interest
- Reviewers must decline review where a conflict of interest exists.
🚫 MALPRACTICE & MISCONDUCT
The following constitute serious breaches of publication ethics:
- Plagiarism or misappropriation of work
- Fabrication or falsification of data or legal authorities
- Misrepresentation of authorship
- Suppression of relevant legal precedents
- Unauthorized use of confidential material
⚖️ ACTION IN CASE OF MISCONDUCT
Where misconduct is suspected or established, SLJ reserves the right to:
- Reject or withdraw the submission
- Publish corrections, clarifications, or retractions
- Notify the author’s institution or relevant authority (where appropriate)
- Restrict future submissions from the author
🧾 CORRECTIONS & RETRACTIONS
- Errors that materially affect the understanding or reliability of a publication shall be corrected promptly.
- In cases of serious ethical breach, the Journal may issue a retraction notice.
🔐 DATA & RECORDS
SLJ maintains records of submissions, editorial decisions, and communications to ensure transparency and accountability in the publication process.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in published works are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Srinagar Law Journal.
📜 CONCLUSION
Srinagar Law Journal remains committed to fostering a culture of ethical legal scholarship, editorial independence, and professional integrity, while continuing its tradition of authoritative law reporting.