A very good news on this first day of Dasain.

-Tisa

LONDON (AFP) - Former Nepalese Gurkha soldiers won the right to settle in Britain on Tuesday, in what their lawyers hailed as an "historic victory" for the veteran fighters.

"Today we have seen a tremendous and historic victory for the gallant Gurkha veterans of Nepal," said one lawyer, after the High Court ruled in their favour.

"This is a victory that restores honour and dignity to deserving soldiers who faithfully served in Her Majesty's armed forces."

Until now only Gurkhas who retired after 1997, when their base was moved from Hong Kong to England, had the automatic right to settle in Britain.

All other foreign soldiers in the British army have a right to settle in Britain after four years of service anywhere in the world.

Around 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World Wars I and II, and about 3,500 currently serve in the British army, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 45,000 have died serving Britain.

The Gurkhas, who are renowned for their bravery and ferocious fighting skills, have also struggled for many years for pension rights in line with those of their British army counterparts.

Judge Nicholas Blake underlined the "moral debt of honour" and gratitude which Britain has to the Gurkhas for their long military service, wounds sustained in battle, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown.

Solicitor Martin Howe, representing the Gurkhas, said the case had seen "a torrential outpouring of affection and concern" from ordinary British people.

"The bonds of affection and ties of loyalty between the people of this country and the men from the Brigade of Gurkhas, who have unswervingly served this country for 200 years, has never been stronger," he said.

" GOD SAVES THE QUEEN"  AYO GURKHALI!

HERE I COME UK.

BHANJA AND BHANJI LET ME KNOW MORE RESULT FROM THIS..........!!!

 

 

Very good news!!

Thanks for posting it and its a delight to see some positive postings in sajha.

I was going to start a thread with this topic then I had some technical problems formatting and my usual blabbers. Now I feel like Robert Scott who got outpaced by Amundsen to be the first person to conquer the South Pole.

Anyway, this is a moment of truth for the Gurkhas and the friends of the Gurkhas who have consistently lent a hand or two to realize this beautiful day. It should be a day of celebration for all Nepalese people as the Gurkhas are the ones who epitomize bravery and loyalty to the identity of each Nepalese dude/dudette.

This celebration will be so incomplete without a song:

Celebration - Kool & the Gang

BUT THIS IS VERY SAD DAY FOR NEPAL OTHERWISE!!!

ALL GURKHAS LEAVE NEPAL. SO MONEY AND ASSESTS GO ALONG WITH THEM PLUS

NO BRAVE MAN TO PROTECT NEPAL IN CASE BIHARI TRY TO BE FUNNY!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7644441.stm

Great news :-)

Congrats all the brave Gurkhas :-)
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"I've always felt that if someone is prepared to die for this country, then they should have the right to live in this country," he said.

Actress Joanna Lumley was among those campaigning for the Gurkhas

A group of retired Gurkhas fighting for the right to settle in Britain have won their immigration test case at London's High Court.

They were challenging immigration rules which said that those who retired from the British Army before 1997 did not have an automatic right to stay.

Prominent supporter actress Joanna Lumley said it was a "chance to right a great wrong".

The government said it would now review all Gurkhas' cases.

'Debt of honour'

The regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK in 1997 and the government had argued that Gurkhas discharged before that date were unlikely to have strong residential ties with the UK.

That meant those who wanted to settle in the UK had to apply for British residence and could be refused and deported.

The judgement could affect some 2,000 former Gurkhas who retired before 1997.

The judge, Mr Justice Blake, said the Gurkhas' long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown all pointed to a "moral debt of honour" and gratitude felt by British people.

He ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision.

Lawyer Martin Howe said: "Today we have seen a tremendous and historic victory for the gallant Gurkha veterans of Nepal.

"This is a victory that restores honour and dignity to deserving soldiers who faithfully served in Her Majesty's armed forces.

"It is a victory for common sense; a victory for fairness; and a victory for the British sense of what is right."

The five ex-Gurkhas involved in the test case were L/Cpl Gyanendra Rai, Deo Prakash Limbu, Cpl Chakra Limbu, L/Cpl Birendra Shrestha and Bhim Gurung. Gita Mukhiya also took part on behalf her deceased husband.

Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years and are hand picked from a fiercely contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.

They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 fighting in the two world wars.

'Wonderful vindication'

Lumley, whose father served with the Gurkhas, was one of those leading the campaign.

Outside court, she said: "This day is more important than I can tell you because it gives our country the chance to right a great wrong and to wipe out a national shame that has stained us all."

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was a "wonderful vindication" for those who had campaigned for a change in the law.

We will honour our commitment to the Gurkhas by reviewing all cases by the end of the year Home Secretary Jacqui Smith

"I've always felt that if someone is prepared to die for this country, then they should have the right to live in this country," he said.

"The key thing now is to look at the ruling in detail and to make sure that the government now translates that into action and doesn't try and squirm out of it."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said in a statement that the Home Office would revise its guidance surrounding the 1997 cut-off date.

"I have always been clear that where there is a compelling case, soldiers and their families should be considered for settlement," she said.

"We will honour our commitment to the Gurkhas by reviewing all cases by the end of the year."

Discrimination has some limits :-(

Sky may fall, justice should be done. Finally IT IS DONE :-)

Watch this video

British fighting for Gorkhas now. the best thing in the history of immigrants. no groups of immigrants might have been supported so much to come over to their country by the nativesof the country. my big respect to our great Gorkha seniors and the freedom and justing loving British people.

gurkhas are finally honored and dignified.

pakis and dhotis can come to UK and reside so easily and so are the other commonwealth troops but gorkhas cannot simply prove discrimination against them for so long.

the fact is that british pakis are willing to blow themselves up and terrorize the people and gurkhas who are willing to sacrifce their lives for the queen have to prove their bond with UK was a slap in the justice system.

forking white racist bastards british governent finally give in.

 

 

Non-nepalese tributes pour in for the Gurkhas and their supporters in the legal battle from as far as Canada in the west and New Zealand in the east. Find the commendations/condemnations at the end of the article.

Gurkhas celebrate court win for right to settle in Britain

woooowhhhaaaaaa............We too get good and positive news in Sajha Congratulation ...............

They needed it desperately not to be the citizen of the UK but to be honored. As a student we exemplify the legal system of the UK but it denotes that no country has perfect written legal document. Thanks to brave judge who made this decision..........We should learn lesson from this....... what a case study it will be.