Gurkha soldiers are now fighting for equal British Army Pension Rights. In May 2009, Gurkha veterans have won the case and the then Labour government announced those Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain. Actress Joanna Lumley has also helped them for winning equal rights of UK residence.
Now, the British Gurkhas Welfare Society (BGWS) are challenging the Ministry of Defence over pensions and taking the case to Strasbourg, the European Court of Human Rights after defeated in the High Court., rejected the claim by the Court of Appeal and refused to appeal further by the Supreme Court
According to BGWS chairman Tikendra Dal Dewan, Gurkhas who retired before 1997 still get only a third of the pensions received by their British and Commonwealth former comrades, despite winning the right to live in Britain.
(Courtesy: BBC)