The High Court yesterday upheld a government decision not to confirm ABM Altaf Hossain as a permanent additional judge of the court.

He was among the six who were made additional judges in June 2012 on a temporary basis, but the government regularised the job of all but his this June.

Though the chief justice had recommended confirmation of the position of all six as permanent after a two-year evaluation, no reason was cited for Altaf's exclusion.

In July and August, Supreme Court lawyer Idrisur Rahman and Altaf themselves filed two separate writ petitions challenging the decision, but the bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Muhammad Ullah rejected both yesterday.

Altaf said he would petition the SC against the HC order.

Salahuddin Dolon, a lawyer for Altaf, told The Daily Star that petitions were rejected since the Appellate Division in its judgment regarding reappointment of 10 HC judges, had not given any specific decision about the conflict between the chief justice's recommendations and the government's decision over a judge's appointment.  Additional Attorney General Murad Reza opposed the writ petitions.