Appeals & Complaints Policy

The Journal of Pure and Applied Agriculture (JPAA) is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and accountable editorial process. This policy provides authors, reviewers, and readers with a clear mechanism to appeal editorial decisions or raise complaints regarding the publication process. This policy applies to appeals and complaints related to editorial decisions on manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection, alleged breaches of publication ethics, peer review conduct or fairness, and any other concerns about the journal’s editorial and publishing practices.

Appeals Process

• Submission of Appeal – Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision must submit a formal written appeal to the editorial office within four weeks of receiving the decision. The appeal should clearly state the grounds for reconsideration and provide supporting evidence or arguments.
• Initial Assessment – The Editor-in-Chief or an appointed senior editor will review the appeal to determine if it warrants further consideration.
• Re-evaluation – If justified, the manuscript may be reassigned to different reviewers or editors for a fresh evaluation.
• Outcome Notification – The author will be informed of the final decision regarding the appeal as soon as possible, typically within 4–6 weeks. This decision is final.

Complaints Handling

Complaints related to the editorial process or publication ethics should be submitted in writing to the editorial office. All complaints will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly and impartially. If a complaint involves ethical misconduct, the Journal of Pure and Applied Agriculture will follow COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and may involve the authors’ institutions or relevant authorities. The complainant will be informed of the outcome of the investigation where appropriate.

Responsibilities

The editorial team commits to handling appeals and complaints objectively, fairly, and confidentially. Complainants and appellants are expected to provide factual, respectful, and constructive communication.

Limitations

Appeals cannot be made against decisions related to matters outside the Journal of Pure and Applied Agriculture’s control, such as institutional policies. Appeals based solely on disagreement with subjective editorial judgments without new evidence are unlikely to be upheld.