Himalayan Publisher is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics. All allegations of research misconduct are handled fairly, confidentially, and transparently in accordance with internationally recognized ethical standards.

This policy is based on the recommendations and COPE Flowcharts developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies uniformly to all journals published by Himalayan Publisher.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all allegations of research misconduct are investigated appropriately while protecting the rights of authors, reviewers, editors, and complainants and preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

• Carefully read and comply with the journal's Author Instructions, editorial policies, and ethical guidelines before submitting a manuscript. 
• Submit original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. 
• Ensure that all data presented are accurate, authentic, and honestly reported. 
• Obtain all required ethical approvals and informed consent where applicable. 
• Disclose any conflicts of interest and sources of funding. 
• Cooperate fully with the Editorial Office during any investigation of alleged misconduct. 

Types of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism.  
• Duplicate or redundant publication. 
• Data fabrication or falsification. 
• Image manipulation. 
• Authorship disputes or inappropriate authorship. 
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest. 
• Ethical approval or informed consent violations. 
• Citation manipulation. 
• Peer review manipulation. 
• Any other unethical publishing practice. 

Investigation Process

When an allegation of research misconduct is received, the Editorial Office will:

• Conduct a preliminary assessment of the allegation. 
• Request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors where appropriate. 
• Consult editors, reviewers, institutions, or independent experts when necessary. 
• Investigate the matter confidentially, fairly, and objectively. 
• Follow the relevant COPE Flowcharts and ethical guidance throughout the investigation. 

Editorial Actions

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request corrections or clarifications. 
• Require revision of the manuscript. 
• Reject the manuscript. 
• Publish a correction or erratum. 
• Issue an Expression of Concern. 
• Retract the published article. 
• Notify the authors' institution, funding agency, or other relevant authorities where appropriate. 
• Impose restrictions on future submissions in cases of serious or repeated misconduct. 

Confidentiality

All allegations and investigations are handled confidentially. Information is shared only with individuals directly involved in the investigation and decision-making process.

Appeals

Authors have the right to respond to allegations and may appeal editorial decisions by providing supporting evidence. Appeals will be reviewed fairly and independently, and the final decision of the Editor-in-Chief or the publisher shall be considered binding.

COPE Guidance

Himalayan Publisher follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Flowcharts and guidance when handling allegations of research misconduct to ensure that investigations are conducted consistently, fairly, and transparently.

The COPE guidance is available at:

https://publicationethics.org/guidance

Policy Applicability

This Policy on Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct is the official policy of Himalayan Publisher and applies uniformly to all journals published under the publisher. All authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members are expected to comply with this policy to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and ethical publishing.