Statement of Ethical Policy

Policy on Ethics is based on the guidelines of COPE. It relates to the ideas and the beliefs about what type of behaviour is morally right and wrong in the process of publications.

Ethical behaviour in the process of publication of Manuscripts

• The participants (Editors, Reviewer, Authors and publisher) remain morally bound with each other in discharging their duties for fair publications.
• There is rapport in between the participants
• There is no case of misconduct and plagiarism
• The participants declare conflict of interest, if any

Process for dealing with Complaints, Misconduct, Conflict of Interest

For the fact finding process, an Investigation Panel (IP) comprising of Chief Editor, an Advisory Board member and third party member has been formed to deal with the reports on Complaints, Misconduct and Conflict of Interest. The report, if any, is first submitted to the Editorial Board which with its remarks forwards it to the Investigation panel (I.P.) for necessary action. As a first step to minimize Complaints, Misconduct and Conflict of Interest (CoI), authors and reviewers are instructed by the Editorial Board to visit and follow UJPAH website, under the heading ‘Statement of Ethical policy, publication Ethics, Copy Right notice (UJPAH Publishing Agreement).

All the participating individuals are instructed to submit report related to complaint and misconduct, if any, to the Investigating Panel (IP) well before the completion of the publication process.

I. COMPLAINTS

Processing of Complaints by/on authors, editor/Reviewer

a. In case of request to the Editorial Board from a corresponding author to eliminate the name of an author from a manuscript, the board will ask the corresponding author to clarify the reason for elimination of the name. On receiving the reply, the complaint is referred with the remark of the editor to the Investigation Panel. If all the authors agree to remove the name of the author in question, the panel may allow reviewing of the paper for publication after necessary modification in the list of authors. Conversely, if all the authors do not agree, the panel disallows elimination of author’s name. The statement of agreement in writing to this effect from author in question whose name is removed is obtained.

b. In case of any report from any source mentioning that one of authors does not qualify for authorship as per criteria the panel asks the author in question for his qualification. If he/she is found disqualified, the panel removes his/her name from the list of authors of the manuscript and obtains his/her agreement in writing to this effect.

c. If there is report that one or more authors of manuscript have not contributed towards drafting and data analysis, the panel investigates it and on finding the genuineness of the report, it removes the name of author/authors concerned and obtains their statement of agreement in writing to this effect.

d. If a corresponding author requests to change an author and to add another author in his/her place, the panel seeks clarification from the author in question for replacing of the existing author by another one. On finding, explanation reasonable, the panel asks the authors if they agree for removal of the author in question by another author. If all of them agree, the replacement is allowed by the panel provided the replacing author possesses necessary qualification. The review of the paper is then allowed. If all the authors do not agree, the review of the paper is not done. The statement of agreement is taken in writing by all the authors whether they agree/disagree.

e. If an editor/Reviewer is found as co-author of a manuscript and the matter is reported to the Investigation Panel by the Editorial Board. I.P. on finding the report genuine will ask the concerned editor/Reviewer not to edit review the manuscript in question. This manuscript is then given to another editor/Reviewer by the Investigation Panel.

II. MISCONDUCT (plagiarism/fabrication)

Plagiarism Defined: The presentation of another author’s data, draft or theory by someone as if it is his/her own, is plagiarism. This may be deliberate, unintentional or honest error. The above situations must be taken into account while drawing conclusion on these malpractices.

Dealing with cases of Plagiarism

a. To manage/minimize misconduct in publication of research article, the participating individuals (editors, reviewers and authors) are required to follow mandatorily ethical policy and publishing agreement (copyright) of the journal, UJPAH as mentioned.

b. If a reader reports to the editorial board that an author of the manuscript submitted for publication has appropriated data of another author, the editorial board on finding the report genuine, passes it on to I.P. which asks for the copy of the concerned manuscript from the author in question. On finding the documentary evidence supporting the above report, I.P. seeks experts’ advice. If the expert’s report mentions that there has been appropriation of data, the author in question is asked for explanation. On finding the explanation unsatisfactory, the concerned author is removed and his institution is informed accordingly for action.

c. If an author reports that a reviewer has used his/her (author’s) data for publication of a research work, a similar process as in (b) is followed for investigation by I.P. On finding reviewer guilty of misconduct/plagiarism, the reviewer is removed and his institution is also informed accordingly.

d. If a reviewer reports that data in the manuscript given by an author for review has been repeated, after getting the remarks from the editorial board, I.P. would ask the author(s), if the data has been repeated by them. If it is so, the author(s) are asked to name the author who has done it. On finding no clarification/explanation, the matter is reported to their institutions for action. If no action is taken by the institutes, the matter is reported to the third party. If the report is found genuine, the third party may recommend to I.P. for disallowing the review of the manuscript. I.P. acts accordingly, it may again report about the malpractice of the authors to their institution for action. If no action is taken by the institutes the author(s) are given warning and disallowed to send manuscripts for publication in future and are blacklisted.

III. Conflict of Interest (CoI)

By definition, CoI occurs if, within a particular decision making context, an individual is subject to two coexisting interests that are in direct conflict with each other. Such a matter is of importance because under such circumstances, the decision making process can be disrupted in a manner that affects the integrity of outcomes.

Dealing with Conflict of Interest

The potential Conflict of Interest in between authors, editors and reviewers arise out of personal and financial issues. If the conflicts are undisclosed, problems caused is not easy to solve. Undisclosed conflicts (personal or professional) obstruct Investigation Panel in making correct assessment of the problem. Due care is taken to eliminate Conflict of Interest to achieve fair publication. Existence of Conflict of Interest between the participating parties carry the risk of unpleasantness and biased judgment.

a. It is mandatory for all the participating parties to disclose any matter related to the Conflict of Interest to the Editorial Board. If it is found to exist, the board passes it on the matter with remark to the Investigation panel (I.P.) to take remedial/necessary steps to maintain fairness in the publishing process.

b.Reviewers are expected to give unbiased peer review on the manuscript submitted by an author/authors. On finding a report by the editorial board that Conflict of Interest exists between the author and the reviewer who has not disclosed it, the editorial board passes it on with its mark to the Investigation Panel which showing concern on the matter of undisclosed CoI, would ask reviewer about the reason for not declaring CoI. If the reviewer replies satisfactorily and accepts his fault, the I.P. takes lenient view and gives the manuscript in question for review to another reviewer. If the reviewer against whom allegation is made does not reply or replies in a vague manner, his/her name as Reviewer is struck off.

c.On getting a report from a Reader about an author’s undisclosed Conflict of Interest (CoI) with editor or reviewer, Investigation panel shows its concern. The matter is investigated for any harm done to fair publication process on account of non-declaration of Conflict of Interest. If it harms, necessary remedial steps are taken by the Investigation panel.

d.If there is report to I.P. that an Editor has CoI with an author of a submitted manuscript and that the Editor in question has not declared it, the I.P. will ask the Editor in question for his clarification for not declaring CoI with the author. If the Editor accepts his mistake in writing, a lenient view is taken. Conversely, if there is no reply or unsatisfactory reply, the editor is eliminated and the matter is reported to the Chief Editor for the necessary action.

In-house code of conduct

1. In order to carry out unbiased judgment on submissions from editors, employees or members of the editorial board office on complaint, the concerning matter is passed on directly to the Investigation Panel (I.P.) for the needful. If I.P. is unable to make any decision in the matter, it contacts Potential experts for their reviews.
2. The decision of the Investigation Panel (I.P.) has to be obeyed by all the participants, editors, reviewers and authors.
3. Processing of publishing a manuscript is to be kept confidential by all the participants.
4. The Conflict of Interest existing in between the participating parties, authors, editors and reviewers has to be mandatorily declared, if any.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The authors will have to fill in Copy Right notice (UJPAH Publishing Agreement) if their articles are accepted for publication. The said Agreement notice will be sent through email to the corresponding authors, to be returned duly filled in by them.

Revenue resources of the journal

The journal is supported on the basis of revenue resources from subscription, advertising and institutional support.

Advertising

The editorial board makes decision regarding accepting advertisements relevant to the theme of the journal, education, and business.

Organizing of events in June and December

Every year a Seminar on “Herbal Research : Opportunities, Challenges and Beyond” in June and a Symposium on “Phytochemistry and Ayurveda: Potential and Prospects” in December is organized.

The deliberations relate mainly to the following subjects

I. Farming of Herbs in Uttarakhand gifted with rich biodiversity.
II. Allocation of funds in the Government of Uttarakhand for development of herbal medicines to control viruses like Corona.
III. Importance of Ayurvedic research to control viral diseases emerging with different strains.
IV. Covid – 19 vaccine: This vaccine is developed through genomic sequencing to decipher the genetic material found in virus.

Event to be held

A Seminar on “Herbal Research : Opportunities, Challenges and Beyond” will be held along with the release of Volume I, No. 36, June, 2024 issue of the Journal, UJPAH in June 2024.