Submission Guidelines
I. Editorial Procedure
Online Submission
Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts electronically to: editor@lstransition.in or submission portal. All submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by any other journal or publication. Each submission will undergo rigorous peer review. Accepted manuscripts will be published in the next available issue of the journal.
Manuscript Submission
By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that the work is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere. Submission also indicates that all co-authors have approved the manuscript and that the necessary permissions have been obtained from the relevant institutional authorities. The publisher assumes no legal responsibility for any disputes related to the submission.
Authorship Principles
All listed authors must have approved the manuscript and consented to its submission. They should also have obtained necessary institutional approvals. In the absence of discipline-specific guidelines, authors are expected to follow widely accepted standards of authorship and contribution.
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are expected to uphold the highest standards of research integrity. Manuscripts must be original, not under simultaneous consideration elsewhere, and free from plagiarism or self-plagiarism. Results should be reported honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or improper data manipulation. Proper permissions must be obtained for the use of tools, data, or instruments. All claims should be supported by relevant literature, and excessive self-citation should be avoided. The journal may use plagiarism-detection software to screen submissions.
Source Files
The corresponding author must provide all editable source files at every stage of submission and revision. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for review. Manuscripts should be submitted in standard formats such as .docx and PDF.
Role of the Corresponding Author
The corresponding author represents all co-authors and is responsible for:
- Ensuring all authors approve the final manuscript and authorship order
- Managing all communication with the journal before and after publication
- Disclosing any reused or unpublished material
- Ensuring all required declarations and data transparency statements are included
These responsibilities may be delegated during submission, but the corresponding author must be clearly identified. For review articles, contributions such as concept development, literature review, and drafting should be specified. For thesis-based work, the student is typically listed as the primary author.
Permissions
If authors include any previously published material - such as figures, tables, or text - they must obtain written permission from the copyright holders for both print and online use. Proof of such permission must be provided at the time of submission. In the absence of this evidence, the material will be considered the original work of the authors.
Authors must obtain permission to reproduce any previously published material for both print and online use and provide proof at submission. Any associated costs are the responsibility of the authors, and alternative material should be used where permissions are not granted.
Competing Interests and Funding
Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial interests related to the work, particularly those within the past three years or earlier if still relevant. Funding details - including grants, institutional support, or other financial assistance - must be clearly stated. Disclosure ensures transparency and allows readers to assess potential bias.
Disclosures and Declarations at Submission
Authors must provide details of Author Contributions and Competing Interests through the submission. Only the information provided along with the manuscript will appear in the final publication. If an author is also a member of the editorial board, this must be disclosed under Competing Interests. Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial interests, potential conflicts of interest, and any required ethical approvals related to the research that may directly or indirectly influence the submitted work. All submissions must include a section titled "Statements and Declarations." Manuscripts without the required declarations will be treated as incomplete and returned for revision.
Manuscripts that do not comply with these guidelines may be rejected. Authors are accountable for the accuracy and integrity of all submitted information.
Double-Blind Peer Review
The journal follows a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the evaluation process. Authors must carefully remove any identifying details from their manuscripts and related files. This includes omitting names, affiliations, and acknowledgements from the main document and supplementary materials. A separate title page should be submitted containing the manuscript title, author details, institutional affiliations, and contact information of the corresponding author. Any acknowledgements, funding details, or disclosures must also be included on this page. Authors should also ensure that references to their own work are written in a neutral manner that does not reveal their identity.
II. General Style Guidelines
Word Limits:
- Long Articles: 8,000-10,000 words
- Short Articles/Review Essays: 5,000-6,000 words
- Book Reviews: 2,000-3,000 words
- Case Notes/Legislative Comments: 1,500-2,500 words
Language and Spelling:
Use British English (Oxford style). Italicise non-English words and provide translations on first use. Common Latin terms need not be translated.
Titles and Emphasis:
Italicise titles of books, journals, and similar works. Use single quotation marks for shorter works. Avoid underlining.
Punctuation and Dates:
Use the Oxford comma. Write dates as 01 January 2020.
Numbers and Abbreviations:
Spell out numbers up to ten; use numerals thereafter. Avoid abbreviations unless repeated frequently.
Quotations:
Use single quotation marks; double for quotes within quotes. Quotations over 50 words should be indented without quotation marks.
Endnotes:
Place Endnotes numbers after before References and maintain consistent formatting.
Title Page Requirements
- Title: Clear and concise
- Author Details: Full name(s); Institutional affiliation(s) (department, city, state, country, PIN/ZIP code); Complete postal and Email address of the corresponding author; ORCID (if available)
- Abstract: 100-150 words without undefined abbreviations or references
- Keywords: 4-6 keywords for indexing
Endnotes
Endnotes should provide additional information and may include citations, but must not consist solely of references or contain full bibliographic details. Figures and tables should not be included in Endnotes. Number Endnotes consecutively in the text; for tables, use superscript lowercase letters (or asterisks for statistical data). Use Endnotes only - Footnotes are not permitted.
Tables
Tables must be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals and cited in order within the text. Each table should include a clear title and, where necessary, acknowledge previously published sources. Table footnotes should appear below the table and be marked with superscript lowercase letters or asterisks.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements for individuals, funding, or institutional support should be presented on the title page in a separate section. Funding bodies must be named in full.
References
The journal follows the Bluebook citation style Click here. The provided examples are illustrative; authors should consult Bluebook standard guides for additional reference types.
Authorship and Changes
Authors should ensure that the list, order, and designation of the corresponding author are accurate at the time of submission. Changes to authorship during revision are generally discouraged and permitted only with strong justification. No changes are allowed after acceptance. Authors must also respect third-party rights, including copyright and moral rights.
Suggesting Reviewers
Authors may recommend independent and qualified reviewers. Suggested reviewers must have no connection to the work and should ideally represent diverse institutions and countries. Institutional email addresses or verifiable professional links must be provided. While the journal may not use these suggestions, they can assist in the review process.
Copyright and Open Access
For open access publications, authors retain copyright and publish under a Creative Commons license.
Contributor's Agreement
Before publication, authors are required to sign a Journal Contributor's Publishing Agreement. This is an exclusive licence agreement, meaning that while the author retains copyright of the work, they grant the Centre for Academic Social Action (Law and Society in Transition) the sole and exclusive right to publish it for the full legal term of the copyright term.
Production
The Editorial Desk will keep author/s informed about the progress of their manuscript during the production process. Proofs will be sent to the corresponding author via email or through the journal's portal and must be returned promptly to avoid delays in publication. Authors should carefully review the proofs to ensure that all details - such as names, affiliations, author order, contact information, and any Funding or Conflict of Interest statements - are accurate. This stage is the final opportunity to make corrections; no changes can be made after publication. Please note that changes to the author list are not allowed at this stage.
For detailed formatting and submission requirements, authors are advised to consult the Editor: editor@lstransition.in