Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and Appeals
KCMJ is committed to handling all complaints and appeals in a fair, transparent, and timely manner. Authors and readers may raise concerns regarding editorial decisions, review processes, or publication ethics. All submissions will be addressed promptly and in accordance with COPE guidelines.

1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions (Scientific Content)

Authors may appeal decisions related to peer review or manuscript rejection. In such cases, the Editor-in-Chief will carefully review:

  • the authors’ arguments,

  • the reviewers’ reports, and

  • the editorial decision.

After this assessment, the Editor-in-Chief may decide to:

  • uphold the original decision,

  • seek an additional independent review, or

  • reconsider the decision.

The appellant will be informed of the outcome with an explanation when appropriate.
Decisions on appeals are final, and new submissions take priority over appeal cases.

2. Complaints About Editorial or Review Processes (e.g., delays)

Concerns about the editorial workflow, communication, or the time taken for review will be investigated by the Editor-in-Chief.
Appropriate feedback will be provided, and any necessary improvements to processes or procedures will be implemented.

3. Complaints Related to Publication Ethics

Complaints involving ethical concerns—such as plagiarism, authorship disputes, data integrity, or misconduct—will be handled in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

The Editor-in-Chief will review the case, determine the appropriate course of action, and communicate the decision to the complainant.
If the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may refer the matter directly to COPE for further consideration.

Contact for Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals may be submitted to:

Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Ekhlas Khalid Hameed
Email: [email protected]

OR

Editorial Board
Email: [email protected]