The state commissioners, an advisory body within State Council, have recommended that the court invalidate the appointment of Mamdouh al-Wali as head of the Al-Ahram Foundation and reinstate the former head, state television reported Tuesday.

The state commissioners’ decision is not binding, and the court is not obligated to rule how they have recommended.

The former head of the foundation, Abdel Fattah al-Gibaly, had challenged the Shura Council’s decision to dismiss him, citing Article 64 of Law No. 96 which stipulates that the chair of the foundation serves for a term of four years. Gibaly was appointed in November 2011 and thus should have served until 2015, but he was removed in September 2012.

Gibaly’s complaint added that he had not reached retirement age or submitted his resignation, nor was he being investigated for corruption.

Wali also heads the Journalists Syndicate. He won the position in October 2011 elections with the support of the Muslim Brotherhood, although he denies affiliation with the Brotherhood or any other Islamic movement.

Wali is also under fire for defying a syndicate directive not to attend the Constituent Assembly vote on the constitution draft. The syndicate had decided to withdraw Wali, its representative, to protest Islamist domination of the assembly. Wali is facing internal investigation within the syndicate for attending the vote.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm