Policy Document

Peer Review Process

The South Asian Journal of Arts, Humanities and Society (SAJAHS) employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to uphold academic integrity, objectivity, and transparency. Each manuscript is assessed by at least two subject specialists, and the identities of authors and reviewers remain strictly confidential. Authors receive constructive feedback and are expected to revise their manuscripts accordingly. Final editorial decisions—acceptance, revision, or rejection—are based on scholarly merit, relevance, and adherence to reviewer recommendations.

Publication

Accepted manuscripts are initially published online as preprints under the journal’s open-access policy. A print edition is released within two weeks of online publication, and complimentary print copies are provided to authors at their registered addresses.

Submission and Article Processing Charges

SAJAHS does not impose submission fees or article processing charges. All submissions and publications are free of cost, ensuring equal opportunity and scholarly accessibility.

Ethical Guidelines

SAJAHS adheres to ethical principles consistent with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines ensure transparency, academic honesty, and responsible scholarly conduct.

Authors’ Responsibilities

• Ensure research accuracy and appropriate citation of sources.
• Submit original work free from plagiarism or self-plagiarism.
• Maintain similarity within acceptable ethical limits.
• Declare authenticity and confirm exclusive submission.
• Acknowledge sources, funding, and institutional support.
• Assign authorship based on substantive contribution.
• Respect confidentiality, privacy, and research ethics.
• Safeguard data integrity and provide evidence where required.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest.
• Submit justified appeals when contesting editorial decisions.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

• Accept review assignments only when appropriately qualified and available.
• Provide objective, constructive, and respectful evaluations.
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid use of unpublished material.
• Report suspected ethical concerns, including plagiarism or data fabrication.
• Assess originality, methodological rigor, relevance, and clarity.

Editors’ Responsibilities

• Ensure ethical standards and scholarly quality in published work.
• Maintain impartiality and avoid conflict of interest.
• Preserve confidentiality throughout the review process.
• Investigate suspected misconduct using plagiarism detection tools.
• Communicate editorial decisions promptly and transparently.

Copyright

Authors retain full copyright of published work. SAJAHS holds the right of first publication and non-exclusive publishing rights. Authors may share and reuse their work, provided SAJAHS is acknowledged as the original source.

Open Access Policy

SAJAHS provides free and immediate access to all published material. Articles may be read, downloaded, and shared without subscription or payment barriers.

Licensing

All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), permitting unrestricted use and distribution with proper citation.

Advertisement Policy

To preserve academic neutrality and avoid potential conflicts of interest, SAJAHS does not publish or endorse third-party advertisements—including commercial banners, sponsored content, institutional marketing, or promotional materials. This applies to all journal platforms, including website, OJS portal, social media, and print copies. Editorial independence remains uncompromised. Limited non-commercial academic announcements may be permitted if aligned with the journal’s scope.

Waiver Policy

Authors may request withdrawal of manuscripts within seven working days of submission without penalty. Withdrawal requests after initiation of peer review will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may incur a penalty. All co-authors must approve the request, and official withdrawal is acknowledged only through written confirmation by the editorial office.

Withdrawal Policy

• Withdrawal before peer review may be permitted without penalty.
• Withdrawal during peer review requires valid justification and co-author approval.
• Withdrawal after acceptance is permitted only under exceptional circumstances.
• Withdrawal after publication is not permitted; in cases of proven misconduct, retraction or correction will be issued. Unethical withdrawal may lead to temporary submission restrictions or institutional notification.

Plagiarism Policy

All submissions undergo plagiarism screening using Turnitin. Confirmed cases of plagiarism, duplication, or unethical use of previously published work result in immediate rejection. If identified post-publication, the article will be retracted.

Data Integrity

Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data or citations is strictly prohibited. Misconduct identified at any stage may lead to correction, rejection, or retraction.

Multiple or Concurrent Submission

Concurrent submission to more than one journal or redundant publication is prohibited. Research derived from theses or conference papers must be clearly disclosed at submission.

Guidelines for Authors

• Submit manuscripts in MS Word format.
• Follow APA (6th Edition) referencing style.
• Ensure originality and relevance to the journal’s scope.
• Provide full author details and affiliations.
• Manuscripts should not exceed 8,000 words.
• Include an abstract not exceeding 250 words and a minimum of five keywords.
• Submit via the Open Journal System (OJS) and complete all required fields.

Contact

For inquiries regarding submissions, publication, or ethical matters, authors may contact the editorial office:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://journals.usa.edu.pk/sajahs

University of South Asia,