Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

The Turing Ledger Journal of Engineering & Technology (TLJET) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics. Plagiarism—in any form—compromises the trustworthiness of scientific research and academic publishing. To preserve the originality, credibility, and scholarly value of its publications, TLJET enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unethical presentation of another person’s intellectual output—ideas, text, images, data, or findings—without appropriate acknowledgment. The following practices constitute plagiarism:

  • Direct Copying: Verbatim use of content from published or unpublished sources without quotation marks and citation.

  • Paraphrasing: Rewriting someone else's work or research outcomes without attribution.

  • Unacknowledged Data Use: Incorporation of figures, graphs, tables, or datasets without reference.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published or submitted content without proper citation, disclosure, or publisher permission.

3. Plagiarism Threshold

  • TLJET Standard: Manuscripts submitted to TLJET must not exceed a 10% similarity index.

  • HEC Benchmark (Pakistan): Although the Higher Education Commission (HEC) allows up to 19% similarity, TLJET maintains a stricter limit to promote research originality and academic rigor in engineering disciplines.

4. Detection and Prevention

  • Plagiarism Detection Tools: All submissions are screened through leading tools such as Turnitin.

  • Author Responsibility: Authors are responsible for submitting original content and ensuring that all sources are appropriately cited and permissions are secured where needed.

5. Handling of Plagiarism

Type of Plagiarism Editorial Action
Minor (e.g., citation mistakes, oversight) Manuscript will be returned for revision with instructions for proper citation.
Major (e.g., intentional or large-scale copying) Manuscript will be rejected immediately. If published, the article will be retracted.
Repeated or Severe Violations Authors will be blacklisted from future submissions. Institutional notification may occur.

6. Author’s Declaration

All authors are required to submit a Statement of Originality, confirming that:

  • The manuscript is original and unpublished.

  • All sources have been properly cited.

  • The manuscript is not under review elsewhere.

7. Appeals Process

Authors who believe a plagiarism decision has been made in error may submit a formal appeal. Appeals are reviewed by the TLJET Editorial Board, and a final, impartial decision will be issued based on a thorough evaluation.

8. Transparency and Retraction Policy

In the event of retraction due to confirmed plagiarism, TLJET will publish a formal retraction notice, clearly stating the reason, to uphold transparency and protect the academic record.

9. Use of AI-Generated Content

TLJET strictly prohibits the use of AI-generated content (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini) in submitted manuscripts. Authors must ensure that their research submissions reflect original human scholarship and scientific reasoning.

  • AI-assisted writing tools are not allowed in any manuscript section (including abstract, methodology, or discussion).

  • All manuscripts must reflect 0% AI-generated content.

  • Violations will be treated with equal severity as traditional plagiarism and may lead to immediate rejection or retraction.