Appeals, Complaints & Misconduct

The Journal of Exact Community Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (JECH), published by EXACT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, is committed to upholding the highest standards of publishing ethics, editorial integrity, and procedural fairness. This policy defines how authors, reviewers, readers, and institutional bodies may submit formal complaints, appeals, or ethical grievances, and how the journal investigates and resolves such matters systematically, impartially, and confidentially.

Types of Complaints & Appeals Accepted

JECH accepts formal complaints and appeals falling within the following categories:

1.1 Editorial Decisions & Processing

  • Appeals against manuscript rejection decisions believed to be based on direct factual errors or demonstrable reviewer oversight.

  • Misinterpretation or misapplication of peer-reviewer evaluations by the handling editor.

  • Excessive or unjustified processing delays during preliminary screening or double-blind peer review.

1.2 Peer Review Conduct

  • Unsubstantiated reviewer bias or non-objective evaluations.

  • Inappropriate, unprofessional, or derogatory language in reviewer feedback.

  • Un-declared financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest (COI) by assigned peer reviewers.

  • Allegations of manipulated, fake, or coerced peer-review reports.

1.3 Publication Ethics & Research Integrity

  • Plagiarism, text recycling, or uncredited duplicate publication.

  • Allegations of data fabrication, data falsification, or image manipulation.

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest, guest/ghost authorship disputes, or IRB/ethics approval violations.

  • Misconduct involving authors, reviewers, or handling editors.

1.4 Journal Operations & Administration

  • Website, OJS submission platform, or file access technical errors.

  • Article Processing Charge (APC) invoicing or fee structure billing disputes.

  • Delays or errors in PKP-PN digital archiving or metadata representation.

  • Administrative or editorial communication breakdowns.

How to Submit a Complaint or Appeal

Formal complaints and appeals must be submitted in writing via email to the official administrative address:

  • Official Contact Email: Admin@jech.exactresolution.com

  • Publisher Office: EXACT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Required Submission Details:

To ensure a swift investigation, the submission must include:

  1. Complainant’s Full Name, Title, and Institutional Affiliation.

  2. OJS Manuscript Tracking ID Number (if applicable).

  3. Clear, concise narrative detailing the specific nature of the complaint or appeal.

  4. Concrete supporting evidence (e.g., editorial emails, reviewer text excerpts, tracked timelines, or factual datasets).

Acknowledgment & Investigation Timelines

  • Initial Acknowledgment: Complaints and appeals are formally acknowledged via email within 3 working days of receipt.

  • Resolution Window: A comprehensive written determination is typically provided within 2 to 4 weeks.

  • Complex Inquiries: Cases requiring external expert consultation or institutional communication may take longer; in such instances, status updates are issued every 14 days.

Complaints Handling Process

4.1 Initial Screening

Upon receipt at Admin@jech.exactresolution.com, the Editor-in-Chief:

  • Assesses the formal validity and procedural scope of the grievance.

  • Verifies whether the complaint presents verifiable evidence rather than general dissatisfaction with subjective editorial discretion.

  • Assigns the case file to an independent handling editor or oversight panel.

4.2 Investigation Phase

The assigned independent authority conducts a thorough review, which may involve:

  • Reviewing OJS editorial logs, email threads, and reviewer files.

  • Consulting with Editorial Board members or independent external reviewers.

  • Requesting additional raw data, ethics documentation, or explanatory notes from involved parties.

4.3 Decision & Communication

Following investigation, a formal written decision letter is issued to the complainant detailing:

  • The factual findings of the investigation.

  • The rationale behind the final determination.

  • Any formal corrective actions, policy updates, or editorial steps taken.

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors who genuinely believe a manuscript rejection resulted from a direct factual error or demonstrable reviewer oversight may appeal under the following terms:

  • Handling Pathway: The appeal is evaluated by a senior Editorial Board member who was completely unassociated with the original manuscript decision.

  • Possible Appeal Outcomes:

    1. Original Decision Upheld: The rejection is affirmed with explicit technical and scientific justification.

    2. Decision Overturned: The manuscript is reinstated into the active editorial workflow.

    3. Re-Evaluation: The manuscript is assigned to new, independent peer reviewers for additional double-blind review.

Please note: Rejections based on editorial judgments of novelty, priority, clinical impact, or scope alignment fall under sole editorial discretion and do not qualify for appeal. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee acceptance.

Conflict of Interest & Recusal Protocols

If a submitted complaint or appeal directly or indirectly involves the Editor-in-Chief, handling editor, or an Editorial Board member, the individual is immediately recused from the file. Management of the case is transferred to an independent senior editor or designated oversight authority under EXACT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED to maintain complete neutrality.

Confidentiality

All aspects of complaints, appeals, reviewer files, and internal investigations are handled under strict confidentiality protocols. Details are disclosed solely to those directly involved in investigating and resolving the matter.

Corrective & Preventive Actions

Where investigation confirms procedural errors, reviewer misconduct, or research integrity breaches, JECH takes prompt corrective measures:

  • Issuing formal publishing Corrections (Errata/Corrigenda) or Retractions for published articles.

  • Removing compromised peer reviewers from the journal reviewer panel.

  • Re-evaluating and revising internal editorial workflows or OJS system configurations.

  • Issuing formal written apologies to affected complainants.

  • Reporting verified research misconduct or ethical breaches to authors' affiliated institutions and research funding bodies.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

This policy operates in full compliance with ICMJE Recommendations and established international publishing guidelines governing complaints, appeals, and publication ethics disputes.