Withdrawal Policy

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to outline the terms under which authors may withdraw their manuscript from consideration or after acceptance but before publication. This policy ensures clarity and fairness in handling withdrawals, minimizing disruption and maintaining the integrity of the peer review and publication process.

1. Pre-acceptance Withdrawal:

• Authors’ Initiation: Authors may request the withdrawal of a manuscript at any stage before acceptance without penalty. To withdraw a manuscript, authors must submit a formal request in writing to the editorial office, stating the reasons for withdrawal.
• Processing Time: The request will be processed within a week of receipt. Confirmation of withdrawal will be sent to the authors once the manuscript is officially withdrawn from the system.

2. Post-acceptance Withdrawal:

• Withdrawal Fees: If an author requests withdrawal after acceptance, a withdrawal fee may be imposed to cover the costs incurred in processing the manuscript. This fee compensates for the efforts of the reviewers and editors.
• Justification Required: Authors must provide a compelling reason for withdrawal post-acceptance. The decision to allow withdrawal after acceptance is at the discretion of the editor, based on the reasons provided by the authors.

3. Consequences of Withdrawal:

• Record Keeping: Withdrawn manuscripts will be archived internally and will not be deleted from the journal’s records to maintain the integrity of the journal's publishing history.
• Notice of Withdrawal: A notice of withdrawal will be attached to the manuscript's online record indicating that the manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors.

4. Prohibited Practices:

• Duplicate Submissions: Authors must ensure that withdrawn manuscripts are not submitted to other journals until an official withdrawal has been confirmed by the editorial office.
• Manipulation of Process: Frequent withdrawals by the same authors may lead to restrictions on future submissions to ensure fairness and to maintain the integrity of the editorial process.

5. Exceptional Circumstances:

• In cases of ethical concerns, errors, or other significant issues that affect the integrity of the research, the withdrawal process may be superseded by retraction or other editorial actions as per the journal's policies on ethical conduct and research integrity.

6. Contact Information:

• For all matters related to manuscript withdrawal, authors should contact the editorial office via the provided contact details on the journal’s website.