UK court seeks govt clarification on discrimination against Gurkhas

Britain's highest court, Royal Court of Justice, has issued an order to the British government to furnish clarification on the complaints of discrimination against former Gurkha soldiers.

According to a press statement issued by Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen Association (GAESO), six former Gurkha veterans including Victoria Cross Winner Tul Bahadur Pun had filed a petition at the Court on July 11 challenging the discriminatory provision.

The court hearing is scheduled for September 16 and 17.

More than 2,000 Gurkhas who retired from the service before July 1, 1997 have been denied permission to settle in Britain.

According to GAESO, Justice Jeremy Sullivan issued the verdict for an urgent judicial review of Britain's settlement policy for Gurkhas

"Gurkhas seem to be operated on the personal discretion of the bosses of Gurkha Brigades, as the chiefs of Brigade of Gurkhas, Interior Ministry and government lawyers failed to furnish any legal bases on the discrimination against former Gurkhas," the statement reads.nepalnews.com mk July 17 08

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