Plagiarism Policy

The Hyderabad Journal of Sciences (HJS) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the research it publishes. To uphold the highest standards of academic rigour, the journal enforces a strict Plagiarism Policy to ensure that all manuscripts submitted are original, properly cited, and free from any form of plagiarism. This policy aims to prevent misconduct and maintain the credibility and quality of the journal’s publications.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work, ideas, data, or intellectual property without proper attribution or permission. The following are considered forms of plagiarism:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, images, data, or any other content directly from another source without proper citation.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without appropriate citation or permission.

  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases or ideas from another source and blending them with one’s own work without proper attribution.

  • Paraphrasing Without Citation: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or findings in one’s own words without citing the source.

  • Data Falsification/Fabrication: Manipulating or creating fake data that misrepresents the results of research.

2. Plagiarism Detection

  • Plagiarism Screening: All submitted manuscripts undergo a plagiarism detection process using reliable software tools (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate). The journal checks for textual similarity and proper citations to ensure the manuscript does not contain plagiarised content.

  • Threshold for Similarity: A similarity score of 19% or higher, as identified by the plagiarism detection software, may trigger a manual review by the editorial team. Any excessive overlap with previously published works will be investigated.

3. Author Responsibilities

  • Originality of Work: Authors must ensure that the research and manuscript they submit are entirely original. If parts of the manuscript are derived from the authors' previous work, proper citations must be provided.

  • Proper Citation: Authors are required to cite all sources accurately and appropriately. This includes not only direct quotes but also ideas, methodologies, and data taken from other works. References should follow the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

  • Self-Check: Authors are encouraged to perform their plagiarism check using plagiarism detection tools before submitting their manuscript to the journal to ensure that no accidental plagiarism has occurred.

4. Editorial Review and Handling of Plagiarism Cases

  • Initial Review: The editorial board will review flagged cases of potential plagiarism. If a manuscript is found to contain plagiarised content, the editor will determine whether the level of plagiarism is sufficient to warrant rejection or revision.

  • Communication with Authors: If plagiarism is detected before acceptance, authors will be informed of the issue and asked to revise their manuscript to properly attribute the sources or to remove any plagiarised content. Authors may be asked to provide evidence of original research or sources of data.

  • Rejection or Revision: Manuscripts found to contain significant plagiarism may be rejected. If the plagiarism is minimal or due to inadvertent mistakes (e.g., missing citations), the manuscript may be returned for revision and resubmission.

5. Post-Acceptance and Publication

  • Retraction of Published Articles: If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be issued to maintain transparency, and the article will be removed from the journal’s website and archives.

  • Notification of Institutions: If significant plagiarism or data falsification is detected post-publication, the corresponding author’s institution will be notified to ensure accountability.

  • Transparency: Retractions and corrections will be communicated to readers and cited appropriately in the journal’s archives to maintain the academic integrity of the publication.

6. Consequences for Plagiarism

  • Rejection of Manuscript: If a manuscript is found to be plagiarised, it will be rejected. Authors will be notified of the rejection, and the manuscript will be removed from the review or publication process.

  • Banning from Future Submissions: Authors who engage in significant plagiarism may be banned from submitting manuscripts to the Hyderabad Journal of Sciences in the future. This action will be taken to maintain the integrity of the journal.

  • Public Notice: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face public notification, including publication of the retraction notice in the journal and notification to academic institutions or funding agencies, if necessary.

7. Appeals Process

  • Disputed Allegations: If authors disagree with the plagiarism findings, they may appeal the decision. The editor will review the appeal and may conduct a second investigation. If needed, an external expert may be consulted to review the case.

  • Final Decision: The editorial board’s decision regarding plagiarism will be final. The journal is committed to ensuring fair and unbiased evaluations throughout the appeal process.

8. Education and Prevention

  • Guidelines for Authors: Authors will be provided with clear guidelines on how to avoid plagiarism, including proper citation techniques and how to avoid self-plagiarism.

  • Ethical Awareness: The journal actively promotes ethical awareness among authors, reviewers, and editors through educational materials on best practices for writing, referencing, and publishing research.