Appeals and Complaints

The formal mechanisms for submitting, reviewing, and resolving appeals and complaints related to editorial decisions, peer review, publication ethics, and journal operations are defined herein. These procedures apply to authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.

The journal is committed to handling all appeals and complaints fairly, transparently, confidentially, and in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

Appeals

An appeal is a formal request by an author for reconsideration of an editorial decision (e.g., rejection or revision decision) concerning a submitted manuscript. Appeals do not apply to post-publication corrective actions, which are handled under the journal’s complaints and publication ethics procedures.

Grounds for Appeal

Authors may appeal an editorial decision only when there is clear evidence that:

  • The decision was based on a factual error or a significant misinterpretation of the manuscript;
  • The peer review process was compromised by demonstrable bias, undisclosed conflict of interest, or procedural irregularity;
  • The journal’s stated editorial or ethical policies were not correctly or consistently applied.

Disagreement with reviewers’ opinions or editorial judgment alone does not constitute valid grounds for appeal.

Appeal Submission and Review

Appeals must be submitted in writing to the editorial office within 30 days of the editorial decision. The appeal must clearly state the grounds for reconsideration and include supporting evidence where applicable.

Upon filing a formal appeal, the original editorial decision is temporarily suspended, and the manuscript is returned to “under consideration” status solely for the purpose of appeal review. During this period, the manuscript must not be submitted to another journal while the appeal remains active. Authors may withdraw their appeal at any time to seek publication elsewhere. Once withdrawn, an appeal cannot be reinstated, and the original editorial decision remains in effect.

Appeals are assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or a senior editor who was not involved in the original decision. Additional independent reviewers or editorial board members may be consulted. All relevant materials, including the original submission, reviewer reports, and the appeal statement, are evaluated.

The journal aims to communicate the outcome of an appeal within 30 working days of receipt or to provide a progress update if further review is required.

Appeal Outcome

Following review, the journal may:

  • Uphold the original decision;
  • Request additional peer review;
  • Modify or reverse the original decision.

Decisions on appeals are final with respect to editorial and scholarly judgment. No further appeal will be considered unless compelling new evidence of procedural irregularity or ethical breach is subsequently presented.

Complaints

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction regarding journal policies, editorial conduct, peer review processes, ethical issues, or administrative matters.

Scope of Complaints

Complaints may relate to:

  • Editorial decisions (where concerns relate to procedural fairness rather than academic merit; concerns about academic merit will be treated as appeals);
  • Allegations of bias, discrimination, harassment, or unprofessional conduct;
  • Ethical concerns such as plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, image manipulation, or undisclosed conflicts of interest;
  • Corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or journal administrative procedures.

Submission and Initial Assessment

Complaints must be submitted in writing to the editorial office and include sufficient detail and supporting information to enable assessment.

All complaints are acknowledged within 5 working days. The journal aims to provide a substantive response or progress update within 30 days of receipt.

The journal is committed to maintaining a respectful and professional communication environment. If correspondence contains inflammatory, abusive, demeaning, discriminatory, or threatening language, the journal may, after issuing an appropriate warning, restrict further correspondence to essential communications only.

Anonymous complaints will be investigated only if they present credible, specific, and verifiable information sufficient to establish a prima facie case of potential misconduct. This determination will be made by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor within 10 working days of receipt.

Investigation and Resolution

Complaints are handled by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor. Complaints involving the Editor-in-Chief are referred to an independent editorial board member or a publisher representative, who will oversee the investigation and make the final determination. The Editor-in-Chief will be fully recused from all deliberations and decision-making related to the complaint.

Where relevant, authors, reviewers, or editors may be invited to respond. Allegations of research or publication misconduct are investigated in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and may involve authors’ institutions or other appropriate bodies.

If the complainant remains dissatisfied after internal resolution, they may contact the Publisher’s Ethics Committee or, where applicable, an appropriate regulatory body or ombudsperson. COPE resources may be consulted for guidance.

Possible outcomes include:

  • Providing an explanation or formal response;
  • Issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern;
  • Revising editorial or peer review procedures;
  • Notifying relevant institutions or authorities when warranted.

Confidentiality and Timeliness

All appeals and complaints are treated as confidential. Information is shared only with those directly involved in the assessment or investigation.

Where allegations of research misconduct require disclosure to an author’s institution or regulatory authority, confidentiality obligations will be observed to the extent permitted by ethical and legal requirements.

The journal aims to resolve cases within a reasonable timeframe. Complex cases may require additional time, and all parties will be kept informed of progress.

Records of appeals and complaints are maintained in accordance with the journal’s record-keeping and data protection policies.

Policy Review

This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with ethical standards, best publishing practices, and applicable regulatory requirements. Updates are published on the journal website.

How to File a Complaint

Please submit your complaint in writing to editor@sospublication.co.in. To facilitate prompt resolution, include a clear description of the issue and any relevant supporting documentation.