1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to RJLS are expected to:

• Submit original work that has not been published previously, except where prior publication is explicitly permitted and fully disclosed.
• Ensure that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal at the same time.
• Provide accurate references and acknowledge the work and ideas of other researchers.
• Disclose relevant conflicts of interest and funding sources.
• Ensure that all listed authors have made meaningful contributions and have approved the final manuscript.
• Correct significant errors discovered after submission or publication and cooperate with the editorial team when necessary.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for managing manuscripts fairly and professionally. They shall:

• Evaluate submissions on the basis of academic merit, relevance, originality, and compliance with journal policies.
• Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial and review process.
• Manage conflicts of interest and arrange independent evaluation when appropriate.
• Make editorial decisions based on scholarly quality and the journal's established procedures.
• Address credible allegations of misconduct in a fair and documented manner.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based assessments of manuscripts.
• Declare potential conflicts of interest and decline reviews where impartiality may be compromised.
• Protect the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts and not use their contents for personal advantage.
• Identify relevant overlooked literature and report suspected plagiarism or other ethical concerns to the editor.
• Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or inform the editor when an extension is required.

4. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

RJLS does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of research, improper attribution, duplicate publication, or other forms of publication misconduct. Submitted manuscripts may be screened using appropriate similarity-checking tools and assessed by the editorial team.

Similarity scores are not, by themselves, conclusive proof of plagiarism. Each case must be assessed in context, including the nature of the matched text, attribution, quotations, references, and applicable journal policies.

Where credible concerns arise, RJLS may request explanations or supporting materials, reject a manuscript, correct a published article, or retract it when justified by the evidence and applicable procedures. The parties concerned should be given a fair opportunity to respond.

5. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose financial, professional, personal, or institutional relationships that could reasonably affect their judgment. The editorial team will take appropriate steps to manage disclosed conflicts and protect the fairness of editorial decisions.

6. Peer Review and Editorial Decisions

Manuscripts are subject to an initial editorial assessment and, where appropriate, external peer review in accordance with the journal's Peer Review Process. Editorial decisions are based on the quality, relevance, originality, and ethical acceptability of submissions.

Reviewers provide recommendations, while the final publication decision rests with the authorized editor. The journal's actual review model and procedures should be described in its Peer Review Process policy.

7. Corrections and Retractions

RJLS may publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when significant errors or ethical problems affect the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record. Such actions will be assessed individually, documented, and communicated transparently.

8. Complaints and Appeals

Authors and other concerned parties may submit substantiated complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions or alleged ethical violations through the journal's official contact channel. Complaints will be reviewed fairly, confidentially where appropriate, and without retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.