Chairman Hari Krishna Karki and Vice-chairman Tika Ram Bhattarai of the Nepal Bar Association met UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Wednesday urging him not to get these names approved. Similarly, members of the UML law department are against the appointment of the nominees. They held informal meetings on Thursday.

“We are against the appointment of the controversial judges,” said Advocate Ram Prasad Shrestha. The move comes at a time when party leaders have agreed to adjust their candidates in the second phase of appointment. Former Attorney General Yubraj Sangraula is likely to get one of the two remaining permanent positions in the apex court.

The UML had been vocal against some names. And the Maoists too mellowed after the parties agreed to accommodate one of their candidates—Tulsi Bhatta, Borna Bahadur Karki and Chandeshwor Shrestha.