Gurkhas march on Downing Street to demand right to settle in UK ahead of High Court battle

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The ex-soldiers handed over a 27,668-signature petition calling for the right to live in Britain.

A landmark test case will be heard at the High Court today to decide if they should be granted the right to settle here.

Protest: Dozens of Gurkhas marched from Parliament Square to Downing Street protesting against the Government's refusal to permit them to settle and work in Britain

Almost 50,000 Gurkhas have died fighting for Britain since 1815 and 150,000 have been seriously injured while serving.

Gurkhas are received at Downing Street before handing in their petition

Yet thousands of veterans who retired after July 1, 1997 have been refused visas and have been forced to live in poverty in their homeland of Nepal.

Hundreds of badly injured soldiers have also been barred from travelling here for treatment.

They include Falklands hero Gyanendra Rai, 52, who was left partially paralysed after an Argentine shell tore open his back in 1982.

He was awarded the South Atlantic Medal for courage, yet Britain will not pay him a proper pension to fund medical treatment in Nepal or allow him to travel here for NHS care.

His case is one of 15 due be heard at the High Court in a two-day hearing this week.

The test cases have been brought on behalf of five Gurkha veterans and several widows and children of the Nepalese soldiers.