Purpose of Disclosure Disclosure ensures that the parties to the appeal have access to the relevant information and documents before the appeal hearing. With this information, they can present their arguments at the hearing knowledgeable of the facts and issues in dispute. Disclosure may preclude the parties from being taken by surprise at the hearing, reduce the need for adjournments, shorten the hearing, and often result in the withdrawal of an appeal. Time Limit for Disclosure Full disclosure must be completed within 45 days after the date of the letter of acknowledgment of receipt of the appeal document by the Commission. This period may be extended by the appeal board in only exceptional circumstances.
Full disclosure includes the submission of the appellant's allegations to the deputy head.
On request, the deputy head must give the appellant access to any information or documents pertaining to the appellant or the successful candidate and that is liable to be disclosed before the appeal board. Production of Copies of Documents On request, the deputy head must give the appellant a copy of any document pertaining to the appellant or the successful candidate and that is liable to be disclosed at the appeal hearing. Hearings on Jurisdictional Issues Where an appeal board calls a hearing to deal only with a jurisdictional issue, the appellant is entitled to have access to or copies of information and documents that pertain to the issue of the appeal board's jurisdiction. The department need not give access to information or documents that pertain to the merits of the appeal until the jurisdictional issue has been decided by the appeal board. If the appeal board decides that it has jurisdiction to hear the appeal, the appellant is then entitled to have access to and copies of information and documents pertaining to the merits of the appeal.