Authorship Policy

Author Contribution

As per MRJ guidelines, author(s) is required to disclose the details of author contribution in the cover letter.

Change of Authorship

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidelines and procedures for handling requests related to changes in authorship for manuscripts submitted to the Multidisciplinary Research Journal of Tezpur University. This policy ensures that all changes are made transparently, ethically, and in compliance with international standards for academic publishing.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal, including those under review, accepted for publication, or already published. It governs the addition, removal, or reordering of authors, as well as any disputes related to authorship.

3. Principles of Authorship

Before addressing changes in authorship, it is essential to clarify the criteria for authorship as per the journal’s guidelines:

  • Authorship Criteria: Each author must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. Contributions such as data collection, technical assistance, or funding acquisition alone do not qualify for authorship.
  • Responsibility: All authors share collective responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the work.
  • Order of Authors: The order of authors should reflect their relative contributions to the research, with the corresponding author clearly identified.

4. Types of Authorship Changes

Requests for changes in authorship may include:

  • Addition of an Author: A new contributor who has significantly contributed to the research after the initial submission.
  • Removal of an Author: An existing author wishes to withdraw due to personal, professional, or ethical reasons.
  • Reordering of Authors: A change in the sequence of authors to better reflect their contributions.
  • Correction of Errors: Rectification of typographical or administrative errors in the original submission (e.g., incorrect name, affiliation, or email address).

5. Procedure for Requesting Changes

Step 1: Submission of Request
Requests for changes in authorship must be submitted in writing by the corresponding author to the Editorial Office of the journal. The request should include:

  • Manuscript title and ID.
  • Current authorship details.
  • Proposed changes (addition, removal, reordering, or correction).
  • A detailed explanation of the reason for the change.

Step 2: Consent of All Authors
Written consent from all current and proposed authors must accompany the request. Consent forms should explicitly state agreement to the proposed changes and acknowledge the revised authorship details.

Step 3: Editorial Review
The Editorial Office will review the request to ensure compliance with this policy and ethical guidelines. The journal reserves the right to reject requests that do not meet these criteria or appear inconsistent with the principles of transparency and fairness.

Step 4: Implementation of Changes
If approved, the changes will be implemented in the manuscript record. For published articles, a formal correction notice will be issued and linked to the original article.

6. Dispute Resolution

In cases of disagreement or disputes regarding authorship:

  • The corresponding author is responsible for resolving conflicts among co-authors.
  • If unresolved, the matter will be escalated to the Editorial Board of the journal.
  • The Editorial Board may seek additional evidence or mediation to resolve the issue.
  • If necessary, the journal may refer the case to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) or other relevant bodies for further investigation.

7. Ethical Considerations

  • Transparency: All changes must be made openly and with full disclosure.
  • Fairness: Contributions must be accurately reflected, and no individual should be added or removed without valid justification.
  • Accountability: Authors are accountable for ensuring that all listed contributors meet the journal’s authorship criteria.

8. Prohibited Practices

The following practices are strictly prohibited:

  • “Gift authorship” (listing individuals who did not contribute significantly).
  • “Ghost authorship” (excluding individuals who made substantial contributions).
  • Coercion or pressure to add/remove authors against their will.

Any violations of this policy may result in rejection of the manuscript, retraction of the published article, or other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the journal.

9. Timeline for Requests

Requests for changes in authorship must be submitted before the final acceptance of the manuscript. Post-publication changes will only be considered in exceptional cases, such as proven errors or ethical concerns.