Rejection Policy

Last Updated: June 30, 2025

 

Sramana Publications is committed to maintaining the highest editorial, legal, and ethical standards. This Rejection Policy outlines the framework, procedures, and legal basis for declining submitted manuscripts. It ensures transparency in communication, procedural fairness, and full compliance with applicable laws including:

 

• Indian Contract Act, 1872

• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (India)

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – EU)

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

• The Berne Convention & International Copyright Laws

 

 

This policy applies to all submission formats, including print, digital, translated works, proposals, sample chapters, and full manuscripts submitted via official or affiliated Sramana Publications platforms.

 

 

 

1. Right to Reject Without Obligation

Sramana Publications reserves the absolute right to reject any submission at its sole discretion, without the obligation to provide justification or editorial feedback, except where legally mandated.

 

• Submission does not constitute a contract, obligation to publish, or offer of representation.

• Rejection does not imply commentary on author talent or potential for publication elsewhere.

• No liability is incurred by Sramana Publications for rejected works, except as outlined under data protection law.

 

 

 

 

2. Rejection Categories

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2.1. Non-Compliance Rejection

Manuscripts may be rejected outright if they fail to comply with our Submission Guidelines, including but not limited to:

 

• Incorrect file formats or incomplete documentation

• Unacceptable content types (e.g., hate speech, defamation, unlawful material)

• Failure to provide necessary disclosures (e.g., prior publication, co-authorships)

• Unauthorized AI-generated or AI-written manuscripts

 

 

 

2.2. Editorial Merit-Based Rejection

A manuscript may be rejected after editorial or peer review due to:

 

• Lack of originality or market alignment

• Structural, thematic, or conceptual weaknesses

• Incompatibility with the publishing program, genre verticals, or readership priorities

• Failure to meet editorial standards despite revision opportunities

 

 

 

2.3. Legal & Ethical Rejection

Immediate rejection will occur if content:

 

• Violates copyright or third-party intellectual property rights

• Is plagiarized (partial or full)

• Contains unlicensed, uncredited, or unverifiable third-party material

• Breaches confidentiality, defamation, privacy, or local/international legal standards

 

 

 

2.4. Misrepresentation Rejection

Manuscripts may be declined for:

 

• False authorship or ghostwritten content undisclosed at submission

• Misleading credentials or falsified information

• Conflict of interest not declared as required

 

 

 

 

3. Notification Protocol

Authors will be notified via official communication channels (email) regarding the rejection decision. Notifications include:

 

• Final decision status (Rejected / Rejected with Feedback / Declined after Evaluation)

• Optional editorial feedback (if applicable or agreed in writing)

• Terms regarding resubmission (see Section 5)

 

 

Rejections are typically communicated within 8–12 weeks, though this may vary based on review cycles and genre.

 

 

 

4. No Obligation for Feedback

While we value every submission, Sramana Publications is not obligated to provide detailed editorial feedback upon rejection. Any feedback provided is purely discretionary, confidential, and may not be appealed.

 

 

 

5. Resubmission Policy

Rejected manuscripts may not be resubmitted unless:

 

• Explicitly invited in the rejection notice

• Substantial revision has occurred, and a formal request for reconsideration is made

• At least 12 months have passed since the initial decision (unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Re-submitted work must clearly reference the original submission ID and attach a Change Summary indicating improvements made.

 

 

 

6. Appeals & Disputes

Authors may raise a formal query only if:

 

• They believe there has been a violation of procedural fairness

• They have legal grounds under contract, privacy, or data protection law

• There is reason to believe a conflict of interest or discriminatory practice occurred

 

 

All disputes must be sent to:

writetoshweta23@gmail.com

Subject Line: Rejection Appeal – [Manuscript Title]

 

Response timelines for appeals:

 

• Initial acknowledgement: within 7 business days

• Final response: within 30 business days

 

 

Our editorial decision remains final unless overruled due to legal breach.

 

 

 

7. Data and IP Protection Post-Rejection

Rejected manuscripts remain the intellectual property of the author.

 

• We do not retain, use, or exploit any rejected manuscript content.

• All submissions are stored securely in compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and India’s DPDP Act, and purged within a maximum of 180 days post-final rejection unless otherwise agreed upon or required by law.

• Metadata, author name, and communication history may be retained for legal archiving and compliance.

 

 

 

 

8. Third-Party Submissions and Agency

We only accept third-party submissions (e.g., via literary agents, managers, representatives) if:

 

• The representative is legally authorized in writing to act on behalf of the author

• A valid Letter of Authorization (LOA) is submitted

 

 

Unauthorized submissions may be rejected without review.

 

 

 

9. Rejection Following Agreement

In rare cases, rejection may occur after a publishing agreement is signed. These are typically due to:

 

• Post-contract discovery of fraud, plagiarism, or legal violation

• Author’s breach of contract clauses

• Refusal to comply with professional editorial corrections

 

 

In such cases, the contract will be voided per its termination clause, and all rights will revert to the author unless otherwise specified.

 

 

 

10. Limitation of Liability

Sramana Publications is not liable for:

 

• Any emotional, reputational, or commercial impact arising from rejection

• Loss of opportunity or earnings due to non-acceptance

• Disputes arising from interpretation of subjective editorial judgment

 

 

Submission implies acknowledgment and acceptance of these conditions.

 

 

 

11. Policy Updates

This policy is reviewed regularly to maintain legal compliance and operational transparency. Updates will be published on this page, and prior versions will be archived upon request.

 

 

 

Contact

For further clarification, reach us at:

writetoshweta23@gmail.com