Leaders involved in the campaign said the signatures would be submitted to the party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, who is returning from China visit on Friday night, urging him to oppose the JC recommendations.

“We don’t want to see controversial justices at the apex court. So our party chairman will be requested to work accordingly,” said Bijaya Poudel, one of leaders involved in the signature campaign against some leaders’ lobby to support “controversial” justices.

The campaigners are miffed with Vice-chairman Gautam after he instructed UML lawmakers not to implement the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committees’ decision to summon JC members for recommending “controversial” candidates on Thursday.

The party was dragged into a controversy after JC member Khem Narayan Dhungana reached the party headquarters on Wednesday seeking endorsement of the recommended candidates. Subsequ-ently, Gautam defended Dhungana saying that he had invited the latter to the party office. UML top leaders remain divided over the issue as senior leader Madhav Nepal and Secretary Poudel have stood in favour of the candidates. General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, however, has opposed the JC recommendations.

Campaigners said around 70 of the total 121 Central Committee members will support their move. On Thursday, Ghanshyam Bhusal, Yogesh Bhattarai, Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Shreemaya Thakali and Sushila Thakali, among others, have put their signatures on the document.

Khanal, who had earlier instructed party lawmakers to block the JC recommendations, has reportedly indicated Nepali Congress his support for the endorsement of the JC-recommended candidates.