Policy Guidelines & Malpractice Statement

1) Introduction
2) Ethical Authorship and Contribution
2.1) Author Contribution
2.2) Contributor-Statement
2.3) Author Affiliation Policy
2.4) Ghost Authorship and Honorary Authorship
2.5) Changes to the Author List
2.6) Corrections in Authorship Claims
2.7) Authorship Dispute Resolution
3) Author Publishing Charges (APC)
3.1) Funding and Sustainability
4) Citation Guidelines
4.1) Comprehensive and Accurate Citations
4.2) Verification and Cross-Checking
4.3) Citing Credible Sources
5) Copyright Compliance and Ethical Attribution
6) Plagiarism and Originality
6.1) Preventing Plagiarism
6.2) Ensuring Originality
7) Journal Policy on AI
7.1) For Authors
7.2) For Reviewers & Editors
8) Ethical Oversight
8.1) Human Research
8.2) Animal Research
9) Data Integrity, Data Falsification and Fabrication
9.1) Data Availability and Reproducibility
10) Conflicts of Interest
11) Peer Review Policy
11.1) Reviewer’s Responsibilities
11.2) Author-Reviewer Pledge
12) Editorial Responsibilities and Code of Conduct
13) Retraction and Correction Policies
13.1) Corrections (Errata)
13.2) Corrigendum
13.3) Retractions
13.4) Retraction Process
14) Handling Complaints
14.1) Author Appeals and Complaints Policy
14.2) Appeal and Complaint Submission Process
14.3) Complaint Review Procedure
14.4) Review and Resolution
14.5) Appeals and Further Recourse
15) Harassment Policy
15.1) Reporting Harassment and Investigation Protocol
15.2) Disciplinary Actions
16) Accessibility Policy
16.1) Open Access Statement
16.2) Digital Archiving Policy and Archiving Procedures
16.3) Digital Object Identifiers (DOI)
16.4) Author Self-Archiving
16.5) Copyright and Permissions Policy
16.6) Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License
16.7) Promoting Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

1) Introduction

Ittesaal- Journal of Connecting Discourses (IJCD) is a scholarly journal in the social sciences, humanities, and religious studies committed to the highest standards of publication and research ethics. The Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy is based on the recommendations, guidelines and core practices of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). It outlines the responsibilities of all stakeholders, i.e., authors, reviewers, and editors, involved in the publishing process.

All submissions to IJCD must adhere to these ethical guidelines to ensure integrity, transparency, and academic rigor. The journal takes all allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously and will address them in accordance with HEC and COPE’s established procedures.

This policy document provides the ethical framework to be followed for all submissions to the IJCD. It is intended for use on web and print editions of the journal. It will be reviewed periodically and updated to ensure that it remains aligned with HEC and COPE’s principles as well as the Principles of Transparency and Best Practices in Scholarly Publishing.

2) Ethical Authorship and Contribution

2.1) Author Contribution

The following prerequisites must be met in order to be considered an author:

The author should have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, drafting or substantially revising the manuscript or interpretation of the study; and accept accountability for the results.
The contribution of each author should be clearly stated (where applicable, via contributor statements) to ensure transparency. Individual responsibility must be assigned for the content.

2.2) Contributor-Statement

A contributor statement must be provided, where applicable, to acknowledge and provide details of the planning, ideation or any other help provided by anyone during the research.

2.3) Author Affiliation Policy

Corresponding authors must confirm that all co-authors have clearly listed their relevant affiliations associated with the submitted research.

Authors who transfer to a new institution before publication may update their affiliation accordingly. Once the article is published, affiliations cannot be altered.
Authors with multiple affiliations should write any two that they deemed recent and important
Independent researchers must explicitly state their status as independent researchers.
In addition to affiliations, author(s) contact details; email and ORCID id must be included in the submitted manuscript. For more Author details Click here.

2.4) Ghost Authorship and Honorary Authorship

All individuals who meet the authorship criteria must be credited, and no one should be given authorship credit without having contributed or solely as an honor. Likewise, “ghost” contributors (undisclosed individuals who contributed substantially) are not allowed. Any authorship misconduct (e.g. falsely claiming authorship or omitting a deserving author) that is detected will be addressed seriously, potentially leading to manuscript rejection or published correction.

2.5) Changes to the Author List

Any changes to the author list such as adding or removing authors, changing the order, etc., after initial submission, require agreement from all co-authors and a valid reason for the change. The journal has procedures to handle authorship disputes in line with COPE recommendations.

2.6) Corrections in Authorship Claims

False claims of authorship or unjustified inclusion/ exclusion of authors are considered unethical and will be corrected via published corrigendum or other appropriate actions.

2.7) Authorship Dispute Resolution

The Editor-in-Chief may serve as an arbitrator in resolving authorship disputes. His/her decision will be based on the framework provided by this policy and COPE’s authorship dispute resolution flowchart.

3) Article Publishing Charges (APC)

IJCD does not charge any publishing fee in any stage of the publishing process. The journal is freely accessible to readers and research writers worldwide without any financial barriers. There are no hidden charges for the journal including submission, peer-review, copy-editing, formatting, online publication, digital archiving and long-term access.

3.1) Funding and Sustainability

To ensure that the burden of publishing cost does not fall on authors, the institute Ehya Education Services covers all the cost of IJCD. This model reflects IJCD commitment to academic inclusivity and equity, particularly for scholars from regions or institutions with limited financial resources. It also acknowledges that high quality paper should be published regardless of author’s financial resources. Thus, decisions of acceptance are made on scholarly merit instead of financial capacity. In addition, editorial and peer-review process remains rigorous and free from partiality and financial influence.

4) Citation Guidelines

Ittesaal – Journal of Connecting Discourses (IJCD) emphasizes ethical and accurate citation practices in line with international scholarly standards. The following guidelines must be followed to ensure responsible citation and attribution:

4.1) Comprehensive and Accurate Citations

Authors must meticulously provide complete citations for all referenced sources in Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) 18th edition .
Citations must include essential details: authors' names, titles of articles, journal or book titles, publication dates, volume and issue numbers, and page ranges.
Digital sources must contain stable identifiers such as DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) or URLs.
Authors are required to acknowledge prior scholarly contributions significantly influencing their research.
Original authors must receive clear attribution through complete references and precise in-text citations.
Both published and relevant unpublished works (with necessary permissions) must be accurately cited to maintain scholarly integrity.
Self-citations must be limited to essential contexts, avoiding practices that could be perceived as self-promoting or manipulative.
Self-citations must adhere strictly to the same ethical standards and completeness as citations of external works.
Authors are obligated to promptly correct or retract published citations if inaccuracies or significant errors are identified.
Corrections must be transparently communicated to readers and publishers, clearly documenting and explaining the revisions made.

4.2) Verification and Cross-Checking

Authors should diligently verify citations for accuracy, ensuring that all sources are reliable and correctly formatted.
Authors should not cite irrelevant sources not matching or corresponding to content. Any such sources will be removed by editors.
Authors must follow the specified citation style (i.e., Chicago Manual 18^th edition) consistently, as required by the journal.

4.3) Citing Credible Sources

Preference must be given to citing peer-reviewed, credible scholarly resources such as reputable journals (preferably Scopus & Web of Science indexed Journals), scholarly books, and recognized conference proceedings.

5) Copyright Compliance and Ethical Attribution

Authors must adhere strictly to copyright laws, seeking permissions when reproducing protected material. While authors retain copyright to their work, IJCD acquires publication rights under agreed-upon licensing terms. Proper attribution and respectful acknowledgment of sources, including the authors' own previously published materials, are vital for ethical scholarly communication and preserving intellectual property rights.

6) Plagiarism and Originality

6.1) Preventing Plagiarism

Authors must attribute ideas, data, and verbatim text correctly to the original authors.
Direct quotations and paraphrased ideas from other sources should be clearly identified with appropriate citations.
Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks (for >40 words); or indented (for <40 words) accompanied by clear source attribution.
Authors are obligated to promptly correct or retract published citations if inaccuracies or significant errors are identified.
Corrections must be clearly documented, transparently communicated, and revisions explained to readers and publishers.

6.2) Ensuring Originality

Authors must ensure that the work they submit to IJCD is entirely original and properly cite or quote the work and ideas of others. Any content extracted from other sources (including text, figures, or data) must be clearly attributed with appropriate citations. Submissions should not contain plagiarized material exceeding 18%, whether it is direct, verbatim plagiarism, mosaic (patchwork) plagiarism, or paraphrasing without credit.
All forms of plagiarism are considered serious academic misconduct. This policy applies to all material in the submission, including the main text, abstracts, and references.
Manuscripts submitted to IJCD must not be under consideration by another journal at the same time. Similarly, authors should not submit work that has been published elsewhere, in whole or substantial part. Submitting the same paper to more than one journal, or publishing overlapping content without proper citation (sometimes known as self-plagiarism or redundant publication), is unethical. Authors are required to inform the journal of any closely related work under review or in press elsewhere. If parts of the work (e.g. dataset, methodology) have been previously published, that must be disclosed and the prior publication must be cited or explained to avoid any misrepresentation of originality.
IJCD utilizes plagiarism detection software’s such as Turnitin and iThenticate, to screen submitted manuscripts for similarity to published works. The editorial team carefully reviews any flagged overlaps to determine if they constitute plagiarism or acceptable reuse (such as properly cited quotations or methodological descriptions). If minor plagiarism (e.g., a few lines of uncited text) is detected, authors may be asked to revise the text and properly cite sources. However, severe plagiarism or extensive copying will lead to outright rejection of the submission. In cases where plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted, and a notice of retraction (stating the plagiarism and sources) will be published to correct the record.

7) Journal Policy on AI

AI generative language tools and software’s (like chatgpt, Bard, Claude, LLMs etc.); and assistive AI tools (like Grammarly, citation managers etc.) have impacted scholarly research. In response to this impact, IJCD policy on GenAI provides guidance on the responsible use of AI tools for authors, reviewers and editorial team. Our policy aims to maintain integrity, originality; and respect for ethical and intellectual traditions.

7.1) For Authors:

GenAI tools cannot be enumerated as authors or co-authors as human authors are solely responsible for interpretation, developing arguments; critical engaging with the test/ traditions/ ideas and conclusion of the submitted manuscripts.
However, author may use AI assisted technologies and must disclose it as well. These tools includes: translation of the texts or sources; drafting or summarizing the section of the manuscript; data organization, thematic coding or digital humanities applications. Additional tools for spellings and Grammar check, formatting improvements and generating bibliography or references (with verification) are also permissible.
Authors are strictly prohibited to use gen-AI and AI-assisted tools to generate original arguments, critical insights, interpretation and evaluation of the religious texts/ historical document/ or philosophical works. Hence, authors must never substitute human intellectual engagement with AI-produced analysis. Furthermore, utilizing AI generative images of sacred site, religious figures or sensitive cultural material (unless explicitly part of a critical digital humanities methodology and properly contextualized) is also prohibited.
It is an ethical responsibility of the author(s) to ensure that AI-assisted texts or translations are free from any misinterpretations, cultural/ religious sensitivity or fabrication. It is in fact their responsibility to verify the accuracy of quotations, interpretations and references. Any potential biases and/or factual errors in AI outputs must be critically evaluated and corrected by the author.
It is mandatory for authors to transparently disclose the usage of AI in their manuscripts (for instance in their Methods, Acknowledgements or Notes). They should also report the “tool/ version/ purpose” they have used (for e.g. Chatgpt, version X was used to check grammar). Thus, IJCD requires a disclosure statement upon submission (This AI declaration statement will also appear in the published work). Undisclosed usage of AI discovered due review or at any stage of publishing may lead to correction, rejection or retraction.

7.2) For Reviewers & Editors:

Reviewers and editors must refrain from uploading the (full/ part of) manuscripts on public AI systems (not even to check grammatical errors) in order to protect intellectual property and confidentiality. Moreover, the critical thinking and original assessment needed for IJCD peer review is often beyond the scope of AI technology; and there is a risk that AI assistance will generate incorrect, incomplete or biased conclusions about the manuscript. Therefore, the reviewer is responsible and accountable for the content of the review report; and the editor is responsible and accountable for the editorial process, the final decision and the communication thereof to the authors.
Reviewers and editorial decision must be taken and written by humans, though editors may use AI workflow assistance (for instance, reviewer matching, keywords extraction etc.).
Reviewers are prohibited to draft or summarize peer-review reports using AI.
Moreover, editors should not upload their letters into an AI tool (even improving language) since the confidentiality requirement extends to all communication about the manuscript including any notification or decision letters as they may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or the authors.
IJCD uses GPTZero and Winston AI for AI detection.

Note: IJCD will be periodically updating this policy with respect to the development in AI; and evolving ethical standards in humanities and Islamic Studies.

8) Ethical Oversight

8.1) Human Research

Research in social sciences, humanities, and religious studies may involve human participants (e.g. interviews, surveys, observations) or potentially sensitive cultural/historical materials. IJCD requires that all research involving human subjects or personal data adhere to the highest ethical standards. Authors must ensure that they have obtained approval from an appropriate ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to conducting studies involving people (or explain why an exemption was granted, if applicable). If a submitted manuscript includes research with human participants, the editors may request documentation of IRB approval or a statement of compliance with national/institutional ethical guidelines before the paper is reviewed.

8.2) Animal Research

Any research involving animals must be performed in accordance with relevant Animal Welfare Guidelines; and approved by the appropriate oversight bodies. The research must ensure that all institutional and national standards for care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

9) Data Integrity, Data Falsification and Fabrication

Authors are expected to present their research data accurately and honestly. Under no circumstances should data be fabricated (made-up data) or falsified (altered or selectively reported) in a manuscript. All forms of data manipulation that misrepresent the true findings are considered severe ethical violations. IJCD considers fabrication or falsification of data to be a grave form of misconduct that undermines the credibility of the scholarly record.

Authors should retain raw data and documentation for their research and be prepared to provide access to that data if questions arise regarding the accuracy or legitimacy of their reported When feasible, the journal encourages authors to deposit research data in reputable data repositories or to include data as supplementary material, in line with COPE’s emphasis on data reproducibility and transparency.
If there is any suspicion of data irregularities in a submission (for example, manipulated images, anomalous or statistically impossible results, or indications that data have been fabricated), the journal will initiate an investigation in line with COPE guidelines. The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial board, will examine the evidence presented. The journal may request original data from the authors or seek independent expert opinion to verify the claims.
Any manuscript found to contain fraudulent data will be rejected, and if the article has already been published, a retraction will be issued. IJCD will also notify authors’ institutions or funding bodies if serious data fabrication or falsification is confirmed, in accordance with COPE’s procedures for handling research misconduct.

9.1) Data Availability and Reproducibility

In fields where it is applicable, authors should comply with discipline-specific standards for data reporting (such as providing datasets, statistical code, or detailed methodological appendices) to facilitate reproducibility. The journal supports initiatives that improve research transparency—such as the use of reporting guidelines and study preregistration—when relevant to the social sciences, humanities, or religious studies research being published.

While recognizing that not all research data can be openly shared (for instance, confidential interview transcripts or culturally sensitive information), IJCD expects authors to be transparent about data availability and any restrictions. Any data omissions or exclusions should be clearly explained in the manuscript. Deliberate withholding of data or methodological details with the intent to deceive is considered unethical.

10) Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest (COI) exists when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional relationships or interests could inappropriately influence (or appear to influence) their objectivity or decision-making regarding a publication.

Transparency about potential conflicts is vital to maintaining trust in the research process. All participants in the publication process (authors, reviewers, editors and editorial Board Members) must disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest.
All authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflict of interest in a dedicated section of the manuscript (often in an acknowledgments or disclosures section) or in the submission This includes disclosing funding sources, institutional affiliations; and/or any commercial, financial or personal connections that might be seen as influencing the research outcomes. Such disclosures will be published with the article to maintain transparency.
If no conflicts exist, authors should explicitly state that there are Intentional failure to disclose pertinent conflicts of interest is itself considered a form of misconduct.
Editors and editorial board members must declare conflicts of interest (if any). Editors will recuse themselves from the review and decision process if there is a conflict of interest with respect to a particular manuscript (for instance, the editor/s are collaborators or have a personal relationship with one of the authors, or have a financial interest in the work). In such cases, the manuscript will be handled by an alternate editor with no conflict, or an independent guest editor may be appointed. The journal’s editorial team and publisher will ensure that editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial or personal interests. All members of the Editorial and Advisory Boards are required to submit written statements of their potential conflicts prior to appointment, and these are kept on record.
Any member of the editorial board who is an author on a submission shall play no role in the review process of that submission. In this scenario, the manuscript and related responsibilities will be handled objectively by others board members.
IJCDl also follows COPE’s guidance to avoid Reviewer-Editor COIs, such as ensuring that peer reviewers are not from the same institution as the author when possible; and that no reviewer is assigned to a paper if they have published with the author recently. By implementing these policies, IJCD strives to uphold the highest level of integrity and impartiality, so that decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and not compromised by conflicts of interest.

11) Peer Review Policy

IJCD follows a double-blind peer review process (the identity of authors is hidden from reviewers and vice versa) to ensure impartial evaluation of all manuscripts. Every manuscript submitted to the journal is initially screened by the editorial office for suitability, completeness, and compliance with journal requirements.

Manuscripts passing the initial screening (including plagiarism check and relevance to the journal’s scope) are then assigned to at least two independent expert IJCD assign only external reviewers to review the manuscript to avoid any COI.
The journal strives to select reviewers who have appropriate subject matter expertise and have no conflicts of interest. The peer review process is conducted following COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers; and is designed to be fair, objective, and Publishing decisions are based on the reviewers’ evaluations of the manuscript’s quality, originality, methodology, and contribution to the field, as well as the relevance to IJCD’s disciplinary focus.

11.1) Reviewer’s Responsibilities

Reviewers play a critical role in safeguarding publication ethics and improving the quality of research. Individuals invited to review for IJCD are expected to uphold the following standards:

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential Reviewers must not share, discuss, or disclose any information about the manuscript with anyone outside the authorized editorial process. Unpublished data or interpretations in the manuscript cannot be used in the reviewer’s own research or for personal advantages or research before publication (in line with COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers). The obligation to maintain confidentiality also means reviewers should not contact the authors directly without permission from the journal.
Potential reviewers are required to recuse themselves (i.e. decline to review) if they have any conflict of interest that could compromise their However, IJCD is a double-blind peer review journal, so chances for COI between reviewer-author are highly unlikely.
Reviewers should also decline if they have a financial stake in the work’s outcome or any other interest that could bias their evaluation.
Reviews should be conducted objectively and presented clearly with supporting arguments. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate – reviewers should focus on the content of the manuscript, not the personalities or affiliations of the authors. They should evaluate the work based on its merit, regardless of the authors’ race, gender, religion, country of origin, or other personal characteristics.
Reviewers are asked to provide thorough evaluations, addressing the strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in the manuscript. The feedback should be constructive, aiming to help authors improve their work. If a manuscript is deemed unsuitable for publication, reviewers should clearly explain the reasons.
Reviewers should check that authors have properly cited all relevant prior work. If reviewers identify any important reference that is missing or uncited, or detect any section of the manuscript that significantly overlaps with another work (published or unpublished), they should notify the editors.
IJCD ensures that peer reviewers are not from the same institution as the author when possible; and that no reviewer is assigned to a paper if they have published with the author recently in order to avoid Reviewer-Editor COIs.

11.2) Author-Reviewer Pledge (Professional Conduct Commitment for IJCD)

Before, participating as a reviewer/ or submitting a manuscript as an author, I affirm that:

I will treat all editors, reviewers and authors with mutual respect and professionalism.
I will give constructive, fair and impartial scholarly work.
I will not indulge in harassment, discrimination, intimidation or bully of any kind.
I will respect religious and cultural sensitivities, especially given the journal’s focus in humanities and Islamic Studies.
I accept that violations of this pledge may result in rejection of my submission/ or removal from the reviewer pool.

12) Editorial Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

IJCD – Journal of Connecting Discourses (IJCD) upholds the highest standards of editorial integrity and ethical conduct in line with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) recommendations. The following outlines the consolidated responsibilities and expectations for Editors and the Chief Editor.

Editors must ensure unbiased and equitable consideration of all submitted manuscripts, regardless of authors’ identities, affiliations, religions, ethnicities or gender etc.
Editorial decisions should be based solely on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
Editors must remain impartial and recuse themselves from decisions when conflicts of interest arise.
Editors are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts, authors’ identities, and reviewers’ details_ disclosing information only to those directly involved in the review and publication processes.
Editorial Board members must not use data, reasoning, or interpretations from unpublished works for their own research without the explicit written consent of the authors.
Editors must exercise full editorial independence, free from commercial, institutional, or political pressures.
Decisions to publish should be driven by academic excellence and integrity rather than external influence.
Editors must clearly communicate the journal’s editorial policies, peer review processes, and decision criteria to authors and reviewers.
Timely, constructive feedback must be provided to authors, including explanations for decisions to accept, revise, or reject manuscripts.
Editors must address complaints, appeals, and concerns pointed out by authors or reviewers fairly and promptly. They must take swift action if misconduct or harassment is reported.
Editors hold the final responsibility for accepting or rejecting manuscripts, based on their importance to researchers, practitioners, and readers, and guided by scholarly merit.
If an editor has a conflict of interest concerning a manuscript, they must withdraw from the decision-making process and delegate the responsibility to another unbiased editor.
Editors are expected to uphold and promote the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. They must remain vigilant for any instances of ethical misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or undisclosed conflicts of interest, and act promptly to address them. Upon confirmation of ethical breaches, appropriate actions—such as corrections, retractions, or other measures—should be implemented.
If misconduct is suspected, editors must investigate thoroughly, documenting all relevant facts and ensuring that authors are given the opportunity to respond. Actions such as retraction, correction, or expression of concern should follow COPE guidelines, with distinctions made between honest errors and deliberate misconduct.
Editors should pursue ongoing professional development through workshops, conferences, and training to remain informed of best practices in scholarly publishing. They should also strive to enhance the quality and impact of the journal through innovative editorial practices.
Editors must foster an environment of academic rigor and respect for the intellectual independence of authors, ensuring that authors have the right to reply to critical reviews. Moreover, they must ensure that published articles meet the highest standards of scholarship and contribute meaningfully to the academic community.

13) Retraction and Correction Policies

IJCD recognizes its responsibility to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. If an article is found to be seriously flawed or unethical after publication, the journal will take prompt action to correct the literature. The forms of post-publication amendments include corrections (errata), expressions of concern, and retractions, depending on the severity of the issues as follow:

13.1) Corrections (Errata)

An erratum implies that the error(s) occurred within the article are mistakes made during the production process (i.e. at the publisher’s end). In case these errors are not tracked before publication and play a significant role in the article comprehension or meaning, authors can contact the editorial office and require the publication of an erratum. When proceeding with an erratum, the original uncorrected articles remain in place, with an additional note stating that the articles have further corrections and the corresponding DOI numbers.
Typographical errors that do not alter the meaning of the articles are not considered as significant reasons to proceed with errata or corrigenda.
If a small portion of an otherwise reliable publication is misleading due to an honest mistake, or if there is an error in the author list (e.g., a contributor was inadvertently left out or someone was included by mistake), a correction notice will be issued. The correction will detail the change and reference the original article. Corrections are typically brief notices published in a later issue or added to the online version of the article, and they link to the original paper.

13.2) Corrigendum

A corrigendum is required if there is a change of critical impact in a published article. Authors wishing a corrigendum on their article are advised to contact the editorial office. The editors of the journal are responsible for the final decision on whether the change essentially affects the article meaning or conclusions.
Typical examples of corrigendum requests include:
- Errors in table numbers or figures; or in statistical data_ provided that they do not alter the conclusions of the article;
- When the list of authors needs to be updated (for e.g. in case authors have been omitted or mistakenly accredited);
- Reference lists that need to updated (e.g. in case authors have omitted to cite material used during their research).
When proceeding with corrigenda, the original uncorrected articles remain in place, with an additional note stating that the articles have further corrections and the corresponding DOI numbers.

13.3) Retractions

Retractions are issued for more serious problems that invalidate a paper’s findings or ethical standing. The journal will consider retraction in cases of research misconduct (such as fabricated or falsified data, plagiarism, or unethical research practices) or when a major error (for example, a miscalculation or experimental error) renders the conclusions unreliable. The purpose of a retraction is to correct the literature; and alert readers that the results of a paper are not trustworthy.
Retractions are not intended to punish authors, but rather to maintain scientific integrity. Common reasons for retraction include discovery of data fabrication or image manipulation, plagiarism of other works, duplicate publication of the same data, or a failure to disclose a significant competing interest that could have affected the interpretation of the data.
Retractions may also occur if an ethical violation is confirmed (for instance, research conducted without necessary ethical approval or consent).

13.4) Retraction Process

When a potential issue is identified in a published article, the Editor-in-Chief will initiate a careful review, which may involve: contacting the authors for an explanation, consulting with independent experts or the journal’s editorial board, and contacting the authors’ institution if misconduct is suspected. The journal follows COPE’s retraction guidelines and flowcharts during this investigation and decision-making process. An Expression of Concern is a notice indicating that the article is under investigation for potential problems. If the investigation confirms serious issues, a retraction will follow; if not, the Expression of Concern may be withdrawn or replaced with a correction as appropriate. IJCD is committed to issuing retractions or corrections promptly after the determination that such action is necessary. If the decision is made to retract, IJCD will:

Publish a retraction notice that is linked to the original article. The notice will clearly identify the article in question (including title and authors), be labeled as a retraction, and state the reason(s) for the retraction of the article.
The notice will also indicate who is retracting the article (in many cases, the authors and/or the editor). Retraction notices are provided freely to all readers and are indexed and linked in all versions of the journal (online PDF/HTML, indexes, etc.) to ensure that the status of the article is clear as retracted.
The retraction notice will be prominently placed (for example, listed in the table of contents of an issue and on the article webpage) so that readers are aware of them. Online, the original article’s webpage will be updated with a header or watermark indicating its retracted or corrected status and the PDF will typically be marked accordingly as well. This aligns with best practices to ensure that readers downloading or viewing the article are alerted to its corrected status.

It is mandatory that authors should provide retractions or corrections of mistakes as soon as they become aware of a serious error that affects the interpretation of the results.

14) Handling Complaints

IJCD maintains the high standards of academic integrity, fairness, and transparency. However, authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints if they perceive errors or procedural irregularities.

14.1) Author Appeals and Complaints Policy

This policy applies to all authors submitting manuscripts to IJCD, allowing them to appeal editorial decisions or express grievances related to the publication process. Authors may appeal or lodge complaints under circumstances including, but not limited to:

Perceived inadequacies or biases in the peer review process.
Instances of unfair treatment or discrimination.
Accusations of plagiarism or other academic misconduct.
Procedural errors during manuscript submission, review, or publication.
Misinterpretation or incorrect application of IJCD's guidelines or policies.

IJCD will ensure that those who lodge complaints or appeals in good faith do not face retaliation or negative consequences regarding future submissions. Complaints and appeals are viewed as opportunities to improve our processes and uphold our commitment to ethical practice.

14.2) Appeal and Complaint Submission Process

Authors wishing to appeal or complain must formally contact IJCD’s editorial office within fifteen (15) days of the relevant decision. Authors who believe that their manuscript was unjustly rejected (or received an unfair review) have the right to appeal the decision. To appeal, the author should send a detailed email or letter to the Editor-in-Chief, explaining the reasons for contesting the decision.
The appeal should specifically address the editors’ and reviewers’ comments and argue why the decision might be reconsidered. Grounds for appeal typically include potential misunderstandings by reviewers or editors, new information or data that address criticisms, or evidence of bias in the review.

14.3) Complaint Review Procedure

Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the Editor-in-Chief will acknowledge the submission and initiate an impartial and confidential investigation. The journal is committed to addressing all concerns promptly and professionally.

The investigation may include the following steps:

Requesting a detailed account of the issue from the complainant
Collecting responses from involved parties (editors, reviewers, or authors)
Examining relevant documentation (e.g., submission logs, emails, peer review reports)
Consulting the COPE guidelines and flowcharts for similar cases to ensure adherence to international best practices

For example, if the issue involves suspected plagiarism or data manipulation, the journal will follow the applicable COPE protocol, which may include informing the author’s affiliated institution.
Both the complainant and the person(s) against whom the complaint is made will be given the opportunity to present their perspective. The process will be handled objectively, maintaining anonymity when required (e.g., for reviewers), with the aim of reaching a fair and evidence-based resolution.

14.4) Review and Resolution

Appeals and complaints will initially be assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor to confirm their validity. The final decision of the Editor-in-Chief regarding appeals is conclusive and binding. Valid appeals or complaints will undergo an independent and impartial review conducted by an appointed external reviewer. Authors will be informed of the outcome within an appropriate and timely manner, which may result in:

Affirmation of the original editorial decision.
Nullification of previous reviews, if warranted by the independent assessment.
Provision for manuscript resubmission or re-review.
Issuing an official apology or clarification concerning procedural mistakes.
Other remedial actions deemed necessary by the Editor-in-Chief.

In all instances, the journal will communicate the outcome to the complainant in a timely and respectful manner. While complex cases may take longer to resolve—especially if external inquiries are involved—updates will be provided throughout the process as necessary.

14.5) Appeals and Further Recourse

If the complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution provided by the Editor-in-Chief, they may escalate the matter to a higher authority, such as the publisher’s ethics committee (if applicable). As a COPE-compliant journal, IJCD remains open to third-party mediation by COPE in particularly difficult or contested ethical matters.

15) Harassment Policy

IJCD is committed in providing a safe scholarly environment for all individuals involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and production staff. Our policy aligns with the guidelines established by COPE, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, and Ehya Education Services, Lahore. IJCD categorically condemns all forms of harassment, including: verbal, written, online abuse, discrimination (on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, language, disability etc.); intimidation and bullying; sexual harassment and religious-cultural insensitivity. The journal commits to providing an environment where all participants feel respected and protected from harassment. IJCD expects a respectful, professional and constructive conduct from all its members.

15.1) Reporting Harassment and Investigation Protocol

A secure and confidential reporting mechanism is in place, allowing affected individuals to report harassment incidents safely. Complaints can be submitted confidentially to the journal’s Editor-in Chief or the publisher.
Investigations into harassment complaints will follow Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 guidelines, ensuring objectivity, privacy, respect and prompt action.
External experts may be consulted as necessary to maintain impartiality and credibility during investigations.
Preventive and protective actions, including maintaining anonymity and applying disciplinary measures will be strictly enforced. In addition, IJCD provides access to appropriate resources, counseling, and support services for harassment victims.

15.2) Disciplinary Actions

Individuals found responsible for harassment may face sanctions including:

Official warnings and/or suspension;
removal from editorial/ or reviewer responsibilities;
rejection of a submission based on abusive communication;
reporting to the author’s or reviewer’s institution;
Public retraction or legal consequences depending on the severity of the misconduct.

Note: IJCD maintains transparency by publicly stating the harassment policy, regularly reviewing and updating it (as per evolving Pakistani laws).

16) Accessibility Policy

IJCD is committed to providing accessible content to all users, employing technologies such as the Open Journal System (OJS) to enhance accessibility.

16.1) Open Access Statement

IJCD fully supports open access, ensuring unrestricted and immediate access to published articles.
Individuals may print articles for personal use; however, full-scale reprints or reproductions by external organizations require explicit permission.
Feedback on accessibility is actively encouraged to continually improve our services.

16.2) Digital Archiving Policy and Archiving Procedures

IJCD is committed to the preservation and long-term accessibility of published content.

Published articles are digitally archived using reliable platforms like CLOCKSS, LOCKSS, Internet Archive, and PKP Preservation Network (PN).
Metadata compatibility with repository services ensures effective preservation and accessibility.
The journal server regularly maintains self-archived copies of published materials.

16.3) Digital Object Identifiers (DOI)

Each article published in IJCD is assigned a DOI to facilitate persistent identification and reliable access.

16.4) Author Self-Archiving

IJCD encourages authors to archive and share their published articles on personal websites, social media platforms, and institutional repositories, enhancing the visibility and impact of their research.

16.5) Copyright and Permissions Policy

IJCD promotes collaboration, knowledge dissemination, and responsible usage of scholarly content by adopting clear policies aligned with COPE and best practices in scholarly publishing.

16.6) Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License

All articles published in IJCD are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits users to distribute, adapt, remix, and build upon the published content, including commercial use, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors.
While authors retain copyright over their manuscripts, IJCD reserves the right to distribute printed copies under certain subscription terms.
Responsibility for the accuracy and authenticity of content rests solely with the authors; IJCD accepts no liability for errors or omissions in published articles.

Publishing under CC BY licenses facilitates open access, enabling broader dissemination, reuse, and advancement of scholarly work, aligning with principles of open science.