Publication Ethics & Copyright Policy

1. Scope and relationship with the journal

The Sangathya journal is a multilingual, peer-reviewed publication for humanities, social sciences and cultural studies. It is published on sangathya.com, which maintains the journal platform and publishes its detailed editorial and submission terms. This policy explains the standards the Foundation expects the journal to uphold.

Where this policy conflicts with the journal’s published terms, the more specific journal terms apply to authors, reviewers and editors.

2. Editorial independence

Editorial decisions must be based on academic merit, relevance and ethical standards, not on commercial, personal or institutional pressure. Editors must not allow the Foundation’s relationships, including its interest in Arkynox, to influence decisions.

3. Peer review

• Submissions will undergo double-blind peer review, with author and reviewer identities hidden from each other.
• Reviewers will be selected for relevant expertise and must declare conflicts of interest.
• Reviews will assess originality, significance, methodology, clarity and ethical compliance.
• Reviewer reports and unpublished manuscripts will be kept confidential.
• A submission will not be accepted solely because of an author’s seniority, affiliation or relationship with the journal.

4. Authorship and contributorship

Authorship must be based on substantial contribution to conception, research, analysis or writing; approval of the final version; and agreement to be accountable for the work. People who contributed in other ways should be acknowledged with their consent. Ghost authorship, gift authorship and honorary authorship are not acceptable.

5. Author responsibilities

• Submit original work and acknowledge the work of others.
• Cite sources accurately and obtain permission for third-party material.
• Ensure the work has not been published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere, unless the journal expressly allows it.
• Disclose funding, conflicts of interest and relevant affiliations.
• Provide accurate data and methods, and make data available where reasonably possible.
• Obtain ethics approval, informed consent and guardian consent where research involves people or children.
• Disclose the use of generative AI tools and take responsibility for the accuracy of all content.
• Promptly notify the journal of any error or misconduct after publication.

6. Research ethics

Research involving human participants must respect dignity, autonomy, privacy and safety. Authors must obtain informed consent, ethics approval and any required permissions. Research involving children or vulnerable adults must follow applicable law and safeguarding standards.

7. Reviewer responsibilities

• Keep manuscripts confidential and not use them for personal advantage.
• Declare conflicts of interest and decline a review where objectivity may be compromised.
• Provide constructive, evidence-based feedback and avoid personal comments.
• Report suspected plagiarism, fabrication, duplicate submission or ethical concerns to the editor.
• Respect the double-blind process and not attempt to identify authors.

8. Editor responsibilities

• Apply consistent, merit-based editorial standards.
• Protect confidentiality and the integrity of the peer-review process.
• Disclose conflicts and recuse themselves where necessary.
• Handle corrections, retractions and complaints promptly and fairly.
• Publish clear author, reviewer and submission guidelines.
• Maintain records of editorial decisions and reviews.

9. Conflicts of interest and funding

Authors, reviewers and editors must disclose financial and non-financial interests that could affect their work or judgment. Funding sources must be disclosed. Editors must recuse themselves from decisions where they have a conflict.

10. Misconduct

Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, improper authorship, undisclosed conflicts, ethical violations and misuse of AI may lead to rejection, correction, retraction, removal from editorial roles or a ban on future submissions. We will document decisions and provide a fair opportunity to respond where appropriate.

11. Corrections and retractions

Minor errors may be corrected with a published correction notice. Serious errors, misconduct or unreliable findings may lead to retraction. Retraction notices will explain the reason and remain linked to the original article.

12. Appeals and complaints

Authors and readers may appeal an editorial decision or raise a concern about publication ethics. Complaints should be sent to the journal’s editorial office through the contact details published on sangathya.com. If the journal cannot resolve a matter, it may refer it to the Foundation’s Grievance Officer or an appropriate external body.

13. Copyright and licensing

Authors retain copyright in their work. By submitting, they grant the journal a licence to publish, archive and make the work available under the licensing terms published on sangathya.com. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission for third-party material.

Journal content may be reused only in accordance with the applicable licence and with attribution.

14. Contact

Questions about this policy may be sent to contact@sangathya.org. Journal-specific queries should go to the editorial office listed on https://www.sangathya.com/.