Retraction and Correction Policy

Effective Date: 12.06.2006
Last Updated: 01.12.2024

M.C.E. Society Publications, operating under Abeda Inamdar Senior College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record. This policy outlines the circumstances under which articles may be retracted or corrected, and the processes for handling such cases, to ensure transparency and uphold ethical publishing standards.

1. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all articles published by M.C.E. Society Publications. It covers:

  1. Corrections: Minor changes to articles that do not affect their validity or conclusions.
  2. Retractions: Withdrawal of articles that are significantly flawed or unethical.
  3. Expressions of Concern: Temporary notices issued when an article’s integrity is under investigation.

2. Retraction Policy

A published article may be retracted under the following circumstances:

  1. Research Misconduct: Instances of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, or unethical research practices.
  2. Significant Errors: Errors that compromise the validity of the results or conclusions, such as miscalculation or methodological flaws.
  3. Duplicate Publication: If the article is found to have been published elsewhere without proper acknowledgment or permission.
  4. Authorship Disputes: Proven cases of inappropriate authorship or misrepresentation.
  5. Breach of Ethical Standards: Violations of journal policies, such as undisclosed conflicts of interest or unethical use of AI.

Retraction Process:

  1. Initiation: Retractions may be requested by:
    • Authors
    • Editors
    • Reviewers
    • Third parties with evidence of misconduct
  2. Investigation:
    • The editorial board will review all evidence, consulting with relevant parties (e.g., authors, reviewers, or external experts).
    • Authors will be given an opportunity to respond to allegations.
  3. Retraction Statement:
    • If retraction is warranted, a formal retraction notice will be published and linked to the retracted article.
    • The retraction notice will include:
      • The reason for retraction.
      • A clear statement identifying the retracted article.
    • The article will remain accessible with a watermark indicating its retracted status.

3. Correction Policy

Corrections are issued to address minor issues that do not compromise the article’s validity or conclusions, such as:

  1. Typographical Errors: Spelling, grammar, or formatting errors.
  2. Minor Data Errors: Errors in figures, tables, or references that do not affect the overall results.
  3. Authorship Corrections: Updating affiliations, contributor details, or acknowledgments.

Correction Process:

  1. Request:
    • Corrections may be requested by authors, readers, or editors.
    • Authors must provide detailed information on the requested correction.
  2. Review:
    • Editors will evaluate the correction request and ensure it does not involve misconduct.
  3. Publication:
    • A correction notice will be published in the next available issue or updated online.
    • The correction notice will be linked to the original article, clearly describing the changes made.

4. Expression of Concern

An expression of concern is issued when:

  1. There is credible evidence suggesting the integrity of an article is questionable, but conclusive results are pending.
  2. Investigations by the journal or external institutions are ongoing.

Process:

  1. Investigation:
    • The editorial team initiates an investigation based on credible concerns.
  2. Notification:
    • Authors and stakeholders are informed and given a chance to respond.
  3. Publication:
    • An expression of concern will be published and linked to the article, explaining the nature of the issue.

If the investigation confirms misconduct or errors, the article will be retracted or corrected accordingly.

5. Transparency and Integrity

M.C.E. Society Publications ensures transparency in all retraction and correction processes:

  1. Retraction and correction notices are freely accessible to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
  2. Notices will provide detailed explanations without defamatory or accusatory language.

6. Consequences of Retraction

  1. Authors of retracted articles may be:
    • Banned from submitting to the journal for a specified period.
    • Reported to their affiliated institutions or funding bodies.
  2. The retracted article will remain available in the journal archives with a retraction watermark for accountability.

7. Commitment to COPE Guidelines

This policy is aligned with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other global ethical standards in academic publishing.

8. Policy Updates

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it reflects current ethical standards and best practices. Updates will be published on the journal’s website.

9. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or to report an issue requiring retraction or correction, please contact:

M.C.E. Society Publications
Abeda Inamdar Senior College of Arts, Science, and Commerce
Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, Maharashtra, India – 411001
Email: journal@mcesocietypublication.com
Phone: +91 00000 00000