Post-Publication and Accountability Policy

Corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, withdrawals, discussion, complaints and appeals
AJIST is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record after publication. Concerns about published material are assessed fairly, proportionately, and as confidentially as reasonably possible. Where appropriate, AJIST follows relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Correction Policy

A correction may be issued when an error affects the accuracy, interpretation, attribution, or integrity of a published article but does not invalidate the work as a whole. The correction notice will identify the article, explain the nature of the change, and be linked to the published Version of Record.

Minor typographical, formatting, or production errors that do not affect meaning or the scholarly record may be corrected without a formal notice where appropriate. Significant errors must not be concealed through silent changes.

2. Retraction Policy

AJIST may retract an article when its findings are unreliable because of major error or research misconduct, or when there is evidence of plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication, fabricated or falsified data, serious ethical non-compliance, manipulated peer review, copyright infringement, or another issue that materially undermines the integrity of the article.

A retraction notice will state the reason for the retraction and, where appropriate, identify who initiated it. The original article will normally remain part of the scholarly record and will be clearly marked as retracted. Silent removal is avoided except where removal is necessary for compelling legal, privacy, or safety reasons.

3. Expressions of Concern

AJIST may publish an Expression of Concern when substantial questions about the integrity or reliability of a published article remain unresolved and an investigation is incomplete, inconclusive, delayed, or dependent on information from an institution, funder, ethics body, or other responsible organisation. The notice will be linked to the article and updated when the matter is resolved.

4. Article Withdrawal

Withdrawal may be considered for an article that has been accepted or posted online before final publication when serious errors, duplicate publication, legal concerns, or ethical violations make continued publication inappropriate. Any withdrawal will be documented transparently. Where a public record of the article already exists, the journal will retain an appropriate notice explaining the withdrawal rather than removing the record without explanation, except where legal, privacy, or safety considerations require otherwise.

5. Article Replacement

Replacement is exceptional. Where a published article contains serious flaws but a corrected version is necessary to protect readers or the scholarly record, AJIST may retract the original article and publish a corrected replacement. The replacement and the retraction notice will be clearly linked so that the publication history remains transparent.

6. Post-Publication Discussion

AJIST welcomes reasoned scholarly discussion concerning published articles. Readers and authors may submit comments, letters, clarifications, or concerns to the editorial office. Where appropriate, the authors of the original article may be invited to respond. Correspondence may be published when it contributes meaningfully to the scholarly record and meets the journal's editorial and ethical standards.

7. Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals should be submitted in writing to the editorial office and should identify the manuscript or article, describe the issue, state the grounds for the complaint or appeal, and provide relevant supporting information. Complaints and appeals are considered fairly and without unnecessary delay.

An appeal against an editorial decision should identify a material error in the review or decision process. An appeal does not guarantee reconsideration, acceptance, or publication. Where a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief or another editor directly involved in the matter, it should be considered by an independent senior editor or publisher representative who was not involved in the original decision.

8. Research Misconduct and Institutional Cooperation

Where a post-publication concern suggests possible research or publication misconduct, AJIST may request explanations or supporting records, consult independent experts, review editorial and peer-review records, apply relevant COPE guidance, or contact the relevant institution, employer, funder, ethics body, or other responsible organisation when appropriate. Possible outcomes include no action, correction, Expression of Concern, retraction, withdrawal, or another proportionate notice necessary to protect the scholarly record.

9. Transparency and Record Keeping

Post-publication notices will be clearly identified, dated, and linked to the affected article whenever technically possible. AJIST aims to preserve the publication history and avoid changes that could mislead readers about what was originally published and why a later action was taken.

10. Contact

Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI), 9/865, Maruthi Nagar, Rakkipalayam Post, Coimbatore - 641031, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: editorial@crijournals.org

Version Control and Transparency

AJIST dates formal corrections, Expressions of Concern, retractions, withdrawals, and replacement notices, permanently links them to the affected article, and states the change and its reason clearly. AJIST avoids silent alteration of the scholarly record when a change materially affects interpretation, attribution, integrity, or publication status.