FAQ

1. What is PGCL Law Review?

PGCL Law Review is a peer-reviewed academic law journal published by SVKM's Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai. The journal provides a platform for the publication of original legal and socio-legal research, promoting scholarly discussion on contemporary legal issues and interdisciplinary perspectives.

2. What is the aim and scope of the journal?

The journal aims to publish high-quality research in all areas of law and socio-legal studies, including constitutional law, corporate law, criminal law, international law, technology law, human rights, environmental law, intellectual property law, comparative law, and interdisciplinary legal research.

3. Is PGCL Law Review a peer-reviewed journal?

Yes. All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process, wherein the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to ensure fairness, objectivity, and academic integrity.

4. Who can submit manuscripts?

The journal welcomes submissions from academicians, researchers, legal practitioners, judges, policymakers, doctoral scholars, postgraduate students, undergraduate law students, and interdisciplinary researchers.

5. What types of manuscripts are accepted?

The journal accepts:

  • Research Articles
  • Short Articles
  • Case Comments
  • Legislative Comments
  • Book Reviews
  • Review Articles
  • Policy Papers
  • Interdisciplinary Legal Research

6. What are the submission requirements?

Submissions must:

  • Be original and unpublished.
  • Not be under consideration elsewhere.
  • Include an abstract and keywords.
  • Follow the journal's formatting and citation guidelines.
  • Comply with publication ethics and plagiarism requirements.

7. What citation style does the journal follow?

The journal follows the latest edition of OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities). Alternative citation formats may be accepted where specifically indicated in the author guidelines.

8. Is there a plagiarism policy?

Yes. Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Submissions with excessive similarity, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabricated data, or unethical research practices may be rejected immediately. The acceptable similarity threshold is generally not more than 10%, excluding references and properly quoted material.

9. What is the peer-review process?

The review process typically includes:

  1. Initial editorial screening.
  2. Plagiarism assessment.
  3. Double-blind peer review by subject experts.
  4. Editorial decision (acceptance, revision, or rejection).
  5. Final proofreading and publication.

10. How long does the review process take?

The review period generally ranges from 4 to 8 weeks, depending on reviewer availability and the complexity of the manuscript.

11. Does the journal charge submission or publication fees?

Details regarding Article Processing Charges (APCs), if any, are specified on the journal website. Any applicable fees are communicated transparently before publication.

12. Is the journal open access?

Yes. PGCL Law Review seeks to promote the widest dissemination of legal scholarship by providing open access to published content, subject to the journal's copyright and licensing policies.

13. Who retains copyright of published articles?

Authors generally retain copyright while granting the journal a license to publish and distribute the work. Specific licensing terms are provided in the copyright policy.

14. Can authors archive their published work?

Yes. Authors may deposit the accepted or published version of their article in institutional repositories, personal websites, and academic networking platforms, subject to the journal's self-archiving policy.

15. Does the journal assign DOI numbers?

Yes. Each published article may be assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to ensure permanent discoverability and citation tracking.

16. What publication ethics does the journal follow?

The journal adheres to internationally recognized publication ethics principles, including:

  • Academic integrity
  • Editorial independence
  • Transparency
  • Conflict-of-interest disclosure
  • Ethical research conduct
  • Retraction and correction procedures

17. What happens if research misconduct is discovered after publication?

The Editorial Board reserves the right to issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with international publication ethics guidelines.

18. Is artificial intelligence (AI) permitted in manuscript preparation?

Authors must disclose any significant use of AI-assisted tools in research or manuscript preparation. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.

19. How can authors track the status of their submission?

Authors will receive acknowledgement upon submission and periodic updates regarding editorial decisions through the journal's manuscript management system or email.

20. How can reviewers participate?

Qualified academics, legal practitioners, and subject-matter experts may apply to join the journal's reviewer panel by submitting their academic profile and areas of expertise.

21. Is the journal indexed?

The journal continuously strives to meet the standards required by leading indexing and abstracting databases. Information regarding current indexing status is available on the journal website.

22. How can I contact the Editorial Board?

For submission-related queries, editorial correspondence, or reviewer applications, please use the official contact details provided on the journal website.

23. Does the journal accept interdisciplinary research?

Yes. The journal strongly encourages interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that examines legal issues through perspectives such as technology, economics, public policy, sociology, psychology, management, healthcare, and environmental studies.

24. What are the reasons for manuscript rejection?

A manuscript may be rejected due to:

  • Plagiarism or ethical concerns.
  • Lack of originality.
  • Poor research methodology.
  • Inadequate legal analysis.
  • Failure to follow author guidelines.
  • Scope mismatch.
  • Insufficient scholarly contribution.

25. How should articles be cited?

Authors and readers should use the official citation format provided by the journal after publication, including volume, issue, page numbers, year, and DOI (where available).