Complaint & Appeal Policy

Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq (AT) is committed to maintaining a transparent, fair, and ethical publishing process. The journal provides a clear mechanism for authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to submit complaints, appeals, or concerns related to editorial decisions, peer review, publication ethics, and journal operations.

Complaints Policy

Complaints may relate to:

  • Unfair or inappropriate editorial decisions.
  • Delays in the peer review or publication process.
  • Concerns regarding reviewer or editor conduct.
  • Authorship disputes.
  • Conflicts of interest.
  • Allegations of plagiarism, research misconduct, or ethical violations.
  • Errors or concerns regarding published articles.

All complaints should be submitted to the editorial office with sufficient details and supporting evidence where applicable.

Handling of Complaints

All complaints received by Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq (AT) are handled:

  • Seriously and confidentially.
  • Fairly and objectively.
  • Without discrimination or bias.
  • According to established publishing ethics standards.

The editorial team investigates complaints carefully and communicates the outcome to the complainant within a reasonable timeframe.

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe that:

  • The decision was based on a misunderstanding of the manuscript content.
  • Important information was overlooked during the review process.
  • The review process was not conducted fairly or according to journal policies.

Appeals must include a detailed explanation of the reasons for reconsideration and any supporting information.

Appeal Review Process

Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor who was not directly involved in the original decision, whenever possible.

The appeal decision may include:

  • Confirmation of the original decision.
  • Request for additional peer review.
  • Reconsideration of the manuscript based on the provided evidence.

The decision on an appeal is final.

Ethical Complaints and Misconduct Allegations

Concerns related to plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, or other research misconduct are investigated according to the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy and relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

Confidentiality and Protection

All complaints and appeals are treated confidentially. The journal protects the privacy of all individuals involved and ensures that complainants are not disadvantaged for raising genuine concerns.

Contact for Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals should be submitted to the editorial office of Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq (AT) through the official journal contact channels provided on the journal website.