1. Introduction

SRJ: International Journal of Scientific Research is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that, in certain circumstances, manuscripts or published articles may require withdrawal, correction, or retraction.

This policy establishes the procedures for handling such matters fairly and transparently, while protecting the interests of authors, readers, reviewers, and the wider research community.

2. Manuscript Withdrawal Policy

2.1 Withdrawal Before Acceptance

Authors may request the withdrawal of a manuscript before its acceptance by submitting a written request to the editorial office.

The request must include:

1. The manuscript title.
2. The manuscript identification number.
3. The names of all authors.
4. The reason for withdrawal.
5. Confirmation that all co-authors agree to the withdrawal.

The editorial office will review the request and communicate its decision to the corresponding author.

2.2 Withdrawal After Acceptance but Before Publication

Requests to withdraw an accepted manuscript will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Authors must provide a written explanation and confirmation that all co-authors agree to the request. The journal may seek additional clarification where necessary before making a decision.

If the manuscript has already entered production or publication processing, the editorial office will explain the applicable procedures and any relevant administrative implications.

2.3 Withdrawal After Publication

Once an article has been formally published, it becomes part of the scholarly record and cannot ordinarily be withdrawn simply at the authors' request.

If serious concerns arise regarding the validity, integrity, or ethical acceptability of a published article, the journal may consider issuing a correction, retraction, or another appropriate editorial notice in accordance with this policy.

3. Corrections Policy

SRJ recognizes that errors may occasionally be identified after publication. When an error affects the accuracy, interpretation, or presentation of an article, the journal will assess whether a formal correction is necessary.

3.1 Minor Corrections

Minor typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors that do not affect the scientific meaning, interpretation, or reliability of the article may be corrected without issuing a separate correction notice, where appropriate.

3.2 Substantive Corrections

A formal correction notice may be issued when an error affects important aspects of the article, including:

1. Data, tables, figures, or statistical information.
2. Author names, affiliations, or acknowledgements.
3. References or other significant bibliographic information.
4. Statements that may affect the interpretation or understanding of the research.
5. Other material errors that do not require retraction of the article.

The journal will assess the nature and significance of the error before deciding on the appropriate action.

3.3 Requesting a Correction

Authors who identify an error in a published article should contact the editorial office in writing.

The request should include the article title, DOI or article identification number, a description of the error, the proposed correction, and supporting information where applicable.

The editorial office may consult the authors, editors, or reviewers as necessary before reaching a decision.

Approved corrections will be published transparently and linked to the original article wherever technically possible.

4. Retraction Policy

Retraction may be considered when serious concerns arise that substantially undermine the reliability, integrity, or ethical acceptability of a published article.

Possible grounds for retraction include, but are not limited to:

1. Fabrication or falsification of research data.
2. Plagiarism or substantial unattributed use of others' work.
3. Duplicate or redundant publication that materially compromises the scholarly record.
4. Serious errors that invalidate the findings or conclusions.
5. Unethical research practices or serious breaches of research ethics.
6. Manipulation of the peer-review process.
7. Fraudulent authorship or other serious publication misconduct.
8. Other circumstances in which the integrity or reliability of the published work cannot be maintained.

Retraction will not be used merely to resolve an authorship dispute or because authors disagree with one another. Such matters will be assessed according to their circumstances and the available evidence.

5. Retraction Procedure

When a potential reason for retraction is identified, the journal will:

1. Assess the concerns and available evidence.
2. Contact the corresponding author and, where appropriate, other relevant authors to request an explanation.
3. Consult editors, reviewers, institutions, or other relevant parties when necessary.
4. Consider the responses and evidence before determining the appropriate editorial action.
5. Communicate the decision to the relevant parties.

Where a retraction is warranted, the journal will publish a retraction notice explaining the reason for the action to the extent possible, while respecting applicable legal and confidentiality requirements.

The original article will ordinarily remain accessible with a clear retraction statement or watermark, so that the scholarly record remains transparent and readers are not misled.

6. Expression of Concern

Where substantial concerns have been raised but an investigation is incomplete or the available evidence is insufficient for an immediate final decision, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern.

Such a notice may be used to alert readers to issues that could affect their interpretation of the article while further clarification or investigation is pursued.

The journal may subsequently issue a correction, retraction, or other appropriate notice when additional information becomes available.

7. Authorship and Disputes

Disputes concerning authorship, contributions, acknowledgements, or the order of authors will be assessed individually.

The journal may request written confirmation from all affected authors and, where appropriate, seek clarification from the relevant institution.

The journal will not ordinarily determine institutional employment disputes or make findings beyond the evidence available to it. Editorial action may be taken where the dispute raises concerns about the integrity or accuracy of the publication record.

8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

1. Review their manuscripts carefully before submission and publication.
2. Ensure that all co-authors approve the submitted and final versions.
3. Notify the editorial office promptly if significant errors are discovered.
4. Cooperate with reasonable editorial inquiries concerning possible errors or misconduct.
5. Provide accurate information and supporting documentation when requesting withdrawal or correction.

Authors must not submit a manuscript to another journal while it remains under active consideration by SRJ, unless the manuscript has been formally withdrawn or the journal has otherwise authorized the action.

9. Responsibilities of the Editorial Office

The editorial office will handle withdrawal, correction, and retraction requests fairly and consistently.

The journal will assess concerns on the basis of the available evidence, provide relevant parties with an appropriate opportunity to respond, and take editorial action where justified.

Editorial decisions will be made with the aim of protecting the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

10. Publication of Notices and Transparency

Where a correction, retraction, or Expression of Concern is issued, the journal will make reasonable efforts to:

1. Clearly identify the notice and the article to which it relates.
2. Explain the reason for the editorial action.
3. Link the notice to the original article and vice versa, wherever technically possible.
4. Preserve the publication history and relevant bibliographic information.
5. Ensure that readers can distinguish corrected or retracted content from content that remains valid.

11. Fees and Refunds

Any publication charges, refund requests, or payment-related matters arising in connection with withdrawal, correction, or retraction will be handled in accordance with the journal's applicable Article Processing Charges and refund terms, subject to applicable law.

Payment of an Article Processing Charge does not prevent the journal from correcting or retracting an article when editorial action is justified.

12. Policy Review

SRJ: International Journal of Scientific Research reserves the right to update this policy when necessary to reflect developments in scholarly publishing standards, research integrity practices, and applicable requirements.

Any revised policy will be made available through the journal's official website.

SRJ: International Journal of Scientific Research

SRJ Publication and Research LLP