KATHMANDU: The Constitutional Council on Tuesday recommended to appoint Deep Basnyat the chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Basnyat is currently the anti-graft body's officiating chief.

Basnyat, a CIAA commissioner, took up the responsibility in October last year after Lok Man Singh Karki faced automatic suspension following the registration of an impeachment motion against him at the Parliament.

His name has to be approved by the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee for the appointment.

The position of Chief Commissioner at the CIAA lied vacant after the Supreme Court on January 8 removed Karki from the powerful constitutional body, concluding that he was ineligible to hold any position.

Basnyat was appointed in the constitutional anti-corruption body along with Nabin Ghimire, Ganesh Raj Joshi, Raj Narayan Pathak and Sabitri Gurung in March 2015.

Before his appointment in the CIAA, Basnyat had served in the bureaucracy.