Unfortunately modern developments in research through ‘Open-Access Publishing’, in spite of being a productive motive towards fast and authentic scientific publication, has also infiltrated the purity of publication ethics and pushed out reliable peer-review system. Research community is under serious threat by ‘predator’ publishers and journals, the word first used in 2012 by Jeffery Beall (academic librarian at University of Colorado, USA). Their hidden slogan being, “Throw money and get your work published online”.
After the advent of open-access, black sheep of research and business community have instigated scam online publishers not having reliable editorial process and referral system for the submitted manuscripts. They grab money from authors to publish their works without due peer-review process benefiting at large incomplete, duplicate, plagiarized and unscientific submissions to getting published quickly.
Many innocent and young researchers from developing countries, not having adequate exposure to such mal-practicing mafias, start their research career by submitting their work to such journals. However, many scholars intentionally publish their work with such circles in order to get bonus of academic up gradation. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) must take serious note of such publications. Though HEC has announced list of recognized journals but these ‘predatory’ international journals need clear verdict for being completely banned. HEC should circulate an official notice to all concerned institutes and universities highlighting the list of predatory publishers. Authorities should introduce strict scrutiny measures to discard and discourage predatory publications of scholars while academic up gradations and appointments to important posts.
MUHAMMAD MUJTABA SHAIKH,
Hyderabad, Sindh, January 12.