Appeals and Complaints Management

At Ceniiac Journal — ISSN 3105-6237 — we are committed to ensuring a fair and transparent editorial process. If an author, reviewer, or reader identifies an irregularity in the peer review, publication process, or editorial decisions, they may submit a formal appeal or complaint.

This procedure follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which outline best practices for handling disputes in scholarly publishing.

1. Types of Appeals and Complaints

1.1 Author Appeals

Authors may appeal if they believe:

  • Their manuscript was unfairly rejected.
  • Errors in the peer review process affected the editorial decision.
  • Bias or unfair treatment occurred during the evaluation process.

1.2 Complaints About Publishing Misconduct

Any concerned party may submit a complaint if they identify:

  • Plagiarism, data fabrication, or improper authorship in a published article.
  • Serious errors in a published article.
  • Lack of transparency in the peer review process.

1.3 Complaints About Conflicts of Interest

If an author or reviewer believes that:

  • An editor or reviewer had an undisclosed conflict of interest.
  • Their manuscript was evaluated in a biased or unfair manner.

These issues can be reported following our Conflict of Interest Policy.

2. How to Submit an Appeal or Complaint

2.1 Appeals (For Authors)

Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision must:

  1. Submit a formal request via email to the Editor-in-Chief at journal@ceniiac.com.
  2. Provide a detailed explanation including:
    • Manuscript ID
    • Decision received
    • Justification supported by scientific evidence
  3. Attach supporting documents, such as:
    • Reviewer comments
    • Additional data that support the appeal

Appeal submission deadline: within 30 days of the rejection notification.

2.2 Complaints (For Readers, Reviewers, or Researchers)

If a reader, reviewer, or researcher detects malpractice in a published article, they may file a complaint as follows:

  1. Complete the Complaints Submission Form.
  2. Provide specific details about the issue.
  3. Submit supporting documentation, if available.

Complaints will be reviewed by the Editorial Committee, and appropriate actions will be taken within 30 business days.

3. Evaluation Process

Once an appeal or complaint is received, the process follows these steps:

  1. Acknowledgment of receipt within 5 business days.
  2. Review by the Editorial Committee.
  3. Consultation with additional reviewers if necessary.
  4. Final decision:
    • If the appeal is valid, the manuscript will be reconsidered.
    • If the complaint is justified, corrective actions will be taken (corrections, retractions, sanctions).
  5. Official notification of the resolution.

4. Possible Outcomes

  • Appeal acceptance: Manuscript reconsidered.
  • Rejection confirmation: Editorial decision upheld.
  • Editorial corrections: Corrigendum issued for minor errors.
  • Retraction: If fraud is confirmed, article removed (COPE Retraction Guidelines).
  • Sanctions: Severe cases may lead to submission bans for authors.

5. Transparency and Editorial Ethics

Ceniiac Journal follows best practices in dispute resolution, ensuring that all appeals and complaints are handled impartially and transparently. Please refer to our Publication Ethics Policy for further details.

Contact: For inquiries or clarifications, email us at journal@ceniiac.com.