A certified employee who believes that he or she has been separated from employment in the Office of the Secretary of State by a personnel transaction used as a subterfuge for discharge may, within 15 calendar days after the final decision of the Director of Personnel on the transaction, appeal in writing to the Commission. The appeal must allege specific facts which, if proven, would establish a prima facie case that the employee was in effect discharged contrary to and in violation of the requirements of Section 9 of this Act. Any appeal which fails to allege sufficient and specific facts to support the allegation may be summarily dismissed by the Commission. The Commission in due exercise of its discretion may make its decision on the appeal after an investigation of the allegations or it may order a hearing held on any disputed issues of fact or law. In any hearing called under the provisions of this section to resolve a dispute of fact, the employee has the burden of establishing by the introduction of competent evidence a prima facie case proving that the employee was pretextually discharged. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude employees from timely asserting other rights given to them under this Act.