Conflict of Interest Policy

What Constitutes a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest exists when an individual’s personal, professional, or financial relationships interfere, or could reasonably be perceived as interfering, with the objective conduct, evaluation, editorial decision-making, or publication of a manuscript submitted to CHARUVIDHYA.

Conflicts of interest may be financial or non-financial, professional or personal, and may involve individuals, institutions, or organizations. Full disclosure of all potential conflicts is mandatory to ensure transparency and research integrity.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in rejection of the manuscript. If an undisclosed conflict is identified after publication, the journal will take appropriate action in accordance with ethical publishing guidelines, which may include issuing a public notice.

What Must Be Declared?

All individuals involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and readers—must disclose any competing interests that occurred within the five years prior to the research or manuscript preparation. Interests outside this period must also be declared if they are reasonably relevant to the work.

Financial Conflicts of Interest

Financial conflicts of interest include any monetary or financial relationships that may influence the research or its interpretation.

  • Ownership of stocks or shares
  • Paid employment or consultancy
  • Membership on boards of directors
  • Patents (pending or granted)
  • Research funding or grants
  • Travel grants, honoraria, or speaking fees
  • Gifts or other financial benefits

Non-Financial Conflicts of Interest

Non-financial conflicts of interest may arise from professional relationships, personal associations, or ideological positions that could affect objectivity.

  • Acting as an expert witness
  • Membership on advisory or oversight committees
  • Associations with funding bodies or professional organizations
  • Writing, teaching, or consulting activities related to the subject
  • Personal relationships (family, spouse, mentor, collaborator, adversary)
  • Strong personal, political, or ideological beliefs

Who Must Declare Conflicts of Interest?

Authors

Authors must disclose all conflicts of interest at the time of submission, including funding sources and the role of funders in the research. Disclosure must also include editorial board memberships and any relevant advisory or expert roles. All authors are required to submit a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.

Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must disclose conflicts and recuse themselves from the process where impartiality may be compromised. This includes situations involving collaboration, co-authorship, shared funding, or personal/professional relationships with the authors.

Readers

Readers submitting comments, discussions, or responses to published articles must disclose any relevant conflicts of interest at the time of submission.

Editorial Actions and Decisions

Editors will evaluate disclosed conflicts throughout the review and publication process and ensure transparency in published articles. Reviewers with conflicts that may compromise impartiality will not be invited to review.

Manuscripts may not be accepted if there is evidence of bias or a reasonable perception of bias that cannot be effectively managed.

Commitment to Transparency

By enforcing this Conflict of Interest Policy, CHARUVIDHYA aims to uphold fairness, transparency, and trust in the scholarly publishing process while maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity.