1. Preamble
Juris Prudentia SILJ is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The Journal recognises that ethical publication practices are fundamental to the credibility of legal research and the advancement of knowledge.
This Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement sets out the responsibilities and expectations of all participants in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.
2. Principles of Publication Ethics
The Journal is guided by the following core principles:
- Honesty and integrity in research and publication.
- Originality and authenticity of scholarly work.
- Fairness, impartiality, and transparency in editorial decisions.
- Confidentiality throughout the review and publication process.
- Accountability and responsibility of all stakeholders.
- Respect for intellectual property and copyright.
3. Duties and Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting manuscripts to the Journal shall:
- 3.1 Originality
Ensure that the submitted work is original, unpublished, and has not been simultaneously submitted to any other journal or
publication.
- 3.2 Acknowledgement of Sources
Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, references, and contributions that have influenced the work.
- 3.3 Accuracy of Research
Present an accurate and objective account of the research undertaken. Fabrication, falsification, or deliberate misrepresentation of facts is strictly prohibited.
- 3.4 Multiple or Redundant Publication
Authors shall not submit substantially similar work to more than one publication at the same time.
- 3.5 Authorship
Only those individuals who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before submission.
- 3.6 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Authors shall disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that may influence the interpretation or presentation of their work.
- 3.7 Correction of Errors
If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published work, they shall promptly notify the Editorial Board and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions where necessary.
4. Duties and Responsibilities of Editors
The Editorial Board shall:
- Evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of academic merit, originality, and relevance to the scope of the Journal.
- Ensure a fair, impartial, and confidential review process.
- Protect the anonymity of authors and reviewers under the double-blind review system.
- Avoid conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where necessary.
- Take appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct or publication malpractice.
- Maintain the integrity of the academic record through corrections, clarifications, or retractions where warranted.
Editorial decisions shall not be influenced by the race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, religion, or political beliefs of the authors.
5. Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality of the Journal and shall:
- Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and within the stipulated timeframe.
- Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.
- Refrain from using unpublished information obtained during the review process for personal advantage.
- Identify relevant published works that have not been cited by the author(s), where appropriate.
- Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest and decline the review assignment if impartiality cannot be maintained.
6. Duties and Responsibilities of the Publisher
The Publisher, namely Shambhunath Institute of Law, shall support the Editorial Board in maintaining the independence and integrity of the publication process and shall ensure that commercial or institutional considerations do not influence editorial decisions.
The Publisher shall facilitate the preservation, accessibility, and long-term availability of published scholarly content.
7. Publication Misconduct
The following practices constitute publication misconduct and are strictly prohibited:
- Plagiarism.
- Fabrication or falsification of data or sources.
- Duplicate or redundant publication.
- Misrepresentation of authorship.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
- Manipulation of the peer review process.
- Citation manipulation or coercive citation practices.
Any allegation of misconduct shall be investigated by the Editorial Board in a fair and confidential manner.
8. Handling of Ethical Complaints
Where ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct arise, the Editorial Board may:
- Seek clarification from the author(s) or reviewer(s) concerned.
- Conduct an independent assessment of the matter.
- Consult external experts, where necessary.
- Reject the manuscript, withdraw acceptance, or retract a published article, depending on the severity of the misconduct.
The Journal reserves the right to notify the author's institution or relevant authority in cases involving serious academic dishonesty.
9. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
Where a published article is found to contain substantial errors or ethical issues, the Journal may issue:
- A Correction,
- A Clarification,
- An Expression of Concern, or
- A Retraction.
Such measures shall be taken in order to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.
10. Confidentiality
All information relating to submitted manuscripts, peer review reports, editorial communications,
and publication decisions shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed except as required for the proper administration
of the publication process.
11. Commitment to Ethical Scholarship
Juris Prudentia SILJ is dedicated to fostering a culture of responsible research and ethical publication.
The Journal expects all contributors and participants to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, honesty, and academic integrity
in every stage of the publication process.
12. Amendments
The Editorial Board reserves the right to revise or update this Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement
from time to time to reflect evolving standards and best practices in scholarly publishing.
13. Effective Date
This Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement shall come into effect from the date of its adoption by the
Editorial Board of Juris Prudentia SILJ and shall apply to all manuscripts submitted for publication thereafter.
Approved by :
Editorial Board
Juris Prudentia SILJ
The Official Journal of Shambhunath Institute of Law
