Sparkling International Journal of Tamil Studies and its Publisher, John Foundation, are committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, research ethics, transparency, confidentiality, fairness, and responsible scholarly publishing. The Journal expects all authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher to follow internationally recognised principles of ethical academic publishing. This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement establishes the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher and outlines the Journal’s approach to plagiarism, research misconduct, conflicts of interest, authorship, duplicate publication, corrections, retractions, and other forms of publication malpractice.

1. Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

1.1 Editorial Independence

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for maintaining the academic quality and integrity of the Journal. Editorial decisions shall be based on the manuscript’s originality, academic quality, relevance, methodological soundness, and contribution to the field. Editors shall not discriminate against authors on the basis of nationality, gender, race, religion, age, institutional affiliation, disability, political views, or other irrelevant personal characteristics.

1.2 Fair and Objective Evaluation

Editors shall ensure that manuscripts are assessed fairly and objectively. Initial editorial assessment and peer review shall consider academic quality, originality, relevance, research methodology, scholarly contribution, and compliance with the Journal’s submission requirements.

1.3 Confidentiality

Editors shall treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Information concerning a submitted manuscript shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the appropriate authors, reviewers, editorial staff, and publisher, as necessary for the publication process.

1.4 Conflicts of Interest

Editors shall disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest and, where appropriate, withdraw from the editorial decision-making process concerning the manuscript.

1.5 Editorial Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief or an authorised member of the Editorial Board shall make the final publication decision based on the reviewers’ reports, authors’ revisions, and the overall editorial assessment. Reviewer recommendations shall be given due consideration, but the final editorial decision remains the responsibility of the Editorial Board.

1.6 Publication Schedule

The Editorial Board shall make reasonable efforts to maintain the Journal’s announced publication schedule. Unavoidable delays arising from peer review, revision, production, or other editorial circumstances shall be managed appropriately.

1.7 Publication Integrity

Editors shall take appropriate action when concerns arise regarding plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, citation manipulation, copyright infringement, or other forms of publication misconduct.

2. Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1 Expertise and Availability

Reviewers should accept invitations only when they have appropriate subject expertise and are able to complete the review within the specified period. If a reviewer lacks the necessary expertise, has a conflict of interest, or cannot complete the review within the required timeframe, the reviewer should promptly inform the Editorial Office.

2.2 Objectivity

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and on the basis of scholarly evidence. Personal opinions, institutional affiliations, nationality, gender, or other irrelevant characteristics of the authors must not influence the review.

2.3 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

• Share the manuscript with others without permission.
• Disclose information concerning the manuscript.
• Use unpublished ideas, data, or arguments for personal or professional advantage.
• Contact the authors directly regarding the manuscript.
• Disclose the review process or manuscript status to third parties.

2.4 Quality of Review

Reviewers should consider, where applicable:

• Originality and significance of the research
• Relevance and clarity of the title
• Research problem and objectives
• Quality and relevance of the literature review
• Theoretical or conceptual framework
• Appropriateness of the methodology
• Reliability and adequacy of data
• Appropriateness of analytical techniques
• Interpretation of findings
• Quality of discussion
• Relationship between findings and conclusions
• Relevance of recommendations
• Accuracy and adequacy of citations
• Accuracy of the reference list
• Appropriateness of tables, figures, and illustrations
• Organisation, coherence, and clarity
• Compliance with the Journal’s author guidelines
• Contribution to multidisciplinary research studies and related fields

2.5 Constructive Feedback

Reviewers should provide clear, respectful, evidence-based, and constructive comments that may help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. Personal criticism, offensive language, or unsupported allegations are not appropriate.

2.6 Identification of Ethical Concerns

If reviewers identify suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, fabrication, falsification, or other ethical concerns, they should confidentially report them to the Editorial Board rather than contacting the authors directly.

3. Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

3.1 Originality

Authors must ensure that their submitted manuscripts are original works. Ideas, quotations, data, images, tables, and other intellectual contributions obtained from other sources must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.

3.2 Exclusive Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. A manuscript that has already been published elsewhere must not be submitted for publication as an original article.

3.3 Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual or scholarly contributions to the research and manuscript. The Journal does not accept inappropriate authorship practices, including ghost authorship, guest authorship, or gift authorship. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and accept responsibility for their respective contributions.

3.4 Research Data Integrity

Authors must not fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or selectively misrepresent research data or findings. Research data and findings must be presented accurately and honestly.

3.5 Citations and References

• Authors must provide accurate and complete citations for all sources used in their manuscripts.
• All sources cited in the manuscript should appear in the reference list, and references listed should be appropriately cited in the manuscript.
• DOIs and other relevant bibliographic information should be provided where available.

3.6 Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose all significant sources of financial or institutional support received for the research.

3.7 Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, personal, professional, or institutional relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its publication.

3.8 Research Ethics and Consent

Where research involves human participants, interviews, surveys, personal data, or other ethically sensitive materials, authors must obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent where applicable. Authors should ensure the confidentiality and protection of research participants.

3.9 Cooperation with Peer Review

Authors are expected to respond appropriately and promptly to editorial and reviewer comments and to make required revisions within the specified period. Where revisions are requested, authors should provide a clear response to the reviewers’ comments and indicate the changes made in the revised manuscript.

3.10 Post-Publication Errors

If authors discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published article, they must promptly notify the Editorial Office and cooperate with the Journal in issuing a correction, clarification, or retraction where necessary.

4. Duties and Responsibilities of the Publisher

John Foundation, as the Publisher of Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies, supports responsible and ethical scholarly publishing. The Publisher shall:

• Respect the academic independence of the Editorial Board.
• Support the Editorial Board in maintaining appropriate publication and research ethics.
• Work with the Editorial Board to investigate allegations of publication misconduct.
• Take appropriate action when serious ethical violations are confirmed.
• Support the publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions where necessary.
• Maintain appropriate procedures for the long-term preservation and accessibility of published scholarly content.
• Ensure that the Journal’s publication practices remain transparent and consistent with responsible scholarly publishing.

5. Publication Misconduct

Sparking does not tolerate publication misconduct, including but not limited to the following:

5.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, ideas, data, images, tables, or intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgement or citation.

5.2 Self-Plagiarism

Substantial reuse of an author’s previously published material without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification may constitute a form of publication misconduct.

5.3 Fabrication

Fabrication is the invention or creation of data, results, sources, participants, or other research information that does not actually exist.

5.4 Falsification

Falsification involves manipulating, altering, omitting, or misrepresenting research materials, procedures, data, or results in a manner that may mislead readers.

5.5 Duplicate or Redundant Publication

Publishing substantially the same research in more than one publication without appropriate disclosure is not acceptable.

5.6 Authorship Misconduct

Including individuals who have not made a substantial contribution or excluding individuals who have made a substantial contribution constitutes inappropriate authorship practice.

5.7 Citation Manipulation

Fabricating references, deliberately providing inaccurate citations, excessively manipulating citations, or adding irrelevant citations for the purpose of increasing citation counts is considered unethical.

6. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

When the Editorial Board receives an allegation of publication misconduct, it shall conduct an appropriate preliminary assessment. Where necessary:

1. An explanation may be requested from the author(s).
2. Relevant evidence or supporting documentation may be requested.
3. Additional expert advice may be obtained.
4. The manuscript may be suspended from further processing.
5. A manuscript may be rejected where misconduct is established.
6. Appropriate post-publication action may be taken if the article has already been published.

Investigations shall, as far as reasonably possible, be conducted in a fair, confidential, impartial, and evidence-based manner.

7. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

The Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity and reliability of the published scholarly record.

Correction

Minor but significant errors that do not invalidate the overall findings may be corrected through an appropriate correction notice.

Expression of Concern

Where serious concerns arise, but the available evidence is insufficient for an immediate final determination, the Journal may issue an Expression of Concern while further investigation is undertaken.

Retraction

Where a published article is found to contain serious errors, unreliable findings, significant plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, or other major forms of publication misconduct, the Journal may retract the article. Any correction or retraction shall be clearly identified and appropriately linked to the original publication.

8. Conflicts of Interest of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest concerning a manuscript. Where a conflict could compromise impartiality, the individual concerned shall withdraw from the review or editorial decision-making process. An alternative editor or reviewer may be appointed where necessary.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit a formal complaint or appeal concerning an editorial decision or an aspect of the publication process where they believe that a significant procedural error, misunderstanding, or ethical concern has occurred. Appeals should provide clear and substantive reasons and relevant supporting information. The Editor-in-Chief or an appropriate senior member of the Editorial Board shall review the appeal. The outcome of the appeal will normally be considered final.

10. Non-Discrimination Policy

Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies and its Publisher, John Foundation, are committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory publishing environment. Authors, reviewers, editors, and other contributors shall not be discriminated against on the basis of nationality, gender, race, religion, age, disability, institutional affiliation, professional status, or other irrelevant personal characteristics. Editorial decisions shall be based on scholarly merit, originality, relevance, research quality, and contribution to the field.

11. Access to Published Content and Digital Archiving

Published articles shall be maintained through the Journal’s official website and appropriate digital platforms. The Publisher shall make reasonable efforts to ensure the long-term preservation, accessibility, and integrity of the Journal’s published scholarly content through appropriate digital archiving practices.

12. Commitment to International Publishing Ethics

Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies is committed to continuously improving its editorial and publication practices in accordance with internationally recognised principles of responsible scholarly publishing. The Journal’s publication ethics framework emphasises:

• Research integrity
• Originality
• Transparency
• Confidentiality
• Fair and impartial peer review
• Editorial independence
• Responsible authorship
• Disclosure of conflicts of interest
• Accurate citation and attribution
• Prevention and investigation of publication misconduct
• Correction and retraction of the scholarly record where necessary
• Long-term preservation of published research

The Journal seeks to maintain a transparent, ethical, and academically rigorous publication environment and to uphold the integrity and credibility of Multidisciplinary Studies and related interdisciplinary scholarship.