Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a critical role in maintaining the quality, integrity, and credibility of scholarly publishing. The editorial team of IMRJ is responsible for ensuring that all editorial decisions and publication processes adhere to the highest ethical standards. Editorial practices are guided by the principles and recommendations provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly the COPE Core Practices and the Code of Conduct for Journal Editors.

Editors must ensure that the editorial process is conducted fairly, transparently, and independently while safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record.

Editors are accountable for all content published in the journal. They must take reasonable steps to ensure the quality, accuracy, and academic integrity of the material published. Editorial decisions should be based on the scholarly merit of the manuscript, including its originality, significance, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

Editors should ensure that the editorial process is transparent and that journal policies regarding peer review, authorship, conflicts of interest, and ethical standards are clearly communicated to authors, reviewers, and readers.

Editors should also work with the publisher and relevant institutions when ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published research.

Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of academic merit without discrimination. Editorial decisions should not be influenced by the authors’ race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, institutional affiliation, religious beliefs, or political views.

Editors should ensure that editorial decisions are independent and not influenced by commercial interests, funding sources, or external pressure. Maintaining fairness and impartiality in editorial decision-making helps ensure trust in the journal and credibility in the scholarly publication process.

Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Information regarding submitted manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone other than individuals directly involved in the editorial and peer review process.

Editors should ensure that confidential information obtained during the review process is not used for personal advantage or disclosed to unauthorized parties. Confidentiality protects both the intellectual property of authors and the integrity of the peer review system.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that peer review is conducted fairly, objectively, and in a timely manner. Appropriate reviewers should be selected based on their expertise and ability to provide a constructive and unbiased evaluation of the manuscript.

Editors should ensure that the peer review process is transparent and follows the journal’s established procedures. They should also take reasonable steps to prevent manipulation of the peer review process.

Editors should evaluate reviewer comments carefully and ensure that editorial decisions are supported by the peer review process.

Editors must manage potential conflicts of interest that could influence editorial decisions. When editors have competing interests related to a manuscript, such as financial relationships, professional collaborations, or personal relationships, they should recuse themselves from handling that manuscript.

Editorial responsibility should then be delegated to another qualified editor to ensure an unbiased editorial decision. Editors should also ensure that authors and reviewers disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect the interpretation or evaluation of the research.

Editors should take appropriate action when ethical concerns arise regarding submitted or published manuscripts. These concerns may include plagiarism, duplicate publication, citation manipulation, data fabrication or falsification, or unethical research practices.

Editors should investigate such concerns carefully and fairly. When necessary, editors may request clarification from the authors, seek additional information, or contact relevant institutions responsible for the research.

Editors should follow established ethical procedures and guidance when handling allegations of misconduct.

Editors are responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical concerns are identified in published articles, editors should work with the publisher to issue appropriate corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

Corrections may be issued when errors do not invalidate the findings of the research, while retractions may be necessary when research findings are unreliable due to serious errors or misconduct.

These actions ensure transparency and help maintain trust in the published literature.

Editors should promote responsible research practices and ensure that manuscripts comply with ethical standards related to research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data.

Editors may require authors to provide evidence of ethical approval, informed consent, or compliance with relevant research guidelines where applicable.

Encouraging ethical research and accurate reporting helps ensure the credibility and reliability of published research.