Withdrawal of Manuscript

The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Journal understands that authors may occasionally need to withdraw a submitted manuscript. This policy outlines the procedures and conditions for manuscript withdrawal at various stages of the editorial process.

Definitions & Stages

Manuscript statuses for withdrawal purposes are defined as:

  • Under Review: Manuscript is undergoing editorial or peer review

  • Accepted: Manuscript has been formally accepted for publication

  • In Press: Manuscript is undergoing copyediting, typesetting, or production

  • Published Online: Manuscript is available online as "Article in Press" or "Online First"

  • Formally Published: Manuscript appears in a formally issued volume/issue

Withdrawal Procedures by Stage

1. Withdrawal During Review Process

  • Status: Manuscript is "Under Review"

  • Procedure:

    • Authors must submit a formal withdrawal request via email to the Editor-in-Chief

    • Request must include manuscript ID, title, and reason for withdrawal

    • All authors must agree to the withdrawal

  • Timeline: Withdrawal is typically processed within 5 business days

  • Consequences: No penalties if withdrawn before peer review completion

2. Withdrawal After Acceptance

  • Status: Manuscript is "Accepted" but not yet in production

  • Procedure:

    • Formal written request from corresponding author with detailed justification

    • Requires approval from Editor-in-Chief

    • May require explanation of circumstances

  • Timeline: Processed within 3-5 business days

  • Consequences:

    • Manuscript will be marked as "Withdrawn" in the system

    • Authors may be required to cover any processing costs incurred

3. Withdrawal After Publication (Retraction)

  • Status: Manuscript is "Published Online" or "Formally Published"

  • Procedure:

    • Cannot be simply withdrawn; follows Retraction Policy

    • Requires formal retraction notice explaining reasons

    • Must address ethical or factual errors, duplicate publication, or plagiarism

  • Timeline: Retraction process may take 2-4 weeks for investigation

  • Consequences:

    • Article remains accessible with "RETRACTED" watermark

    • Retraction notice is linked to the original article

    • Indexing services are notified of the retraction

Unethical Withdrawal & Penalties

Manuscript withdrawal is considered unethical if it occurs:

  1. After receiving peer review comments and revisions

  2. To submit to another journal without disclosure

  3. To avoid addressing critical ethical issues

  4. After excessive delays in the revision process

Penalties for unethical withdrawal may include:

  • Ban on submissions from all authors for 1-3 years

  • Notification to authors' institutions

  • Notification to other journal editors in the field

Special Circumstances

Duplicate Submission

If a manuscript is found to be simultaneously submitted elsewhere:

  • Immediate rejection without review

  • All authors notified of the violation

  • Possible submission ban for 2 years

Author Disputes

In cases of authorship disagreements:

  • Editorial office will mediate discussions

  • Manuscript processing is suspended until resolution

  • If unresolved after 30 days, manuscript may be withdrawn by editorial decision

Required Documentation

All withdrawal requests must include:

  1. Manuscript title and ID number

  2. All authors' names and signatures/consent

  3. Detailed reason for withdrawal

  4. Statement confirming no ethical violations

  5. Disclosure of manuscript's future plans (if any)