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Gurkhas resume settlement battle Gurkha settlement plan 'in weeks'
(10 minutes later)
The government may be "humiliated" into complying with a timetable to change its immigration policy on Gurkha veterans, a solicitor has said. A new policy governing the right of Gurkhas to settle in Britain will be announced within three weeks, the High Court has been told.
Martin Howe, who represents the former soldiers, said since the Home Secretary has failed to come up with a settlement policy, a court may now impose one. Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing the former soldiers, said the home secretary and lawyers for the Gurkhas had agreed "on almost everything".
The veterans are returning to the High Court to continue their fight for the right to settle in the UK. The veterans have returned to the High Court to continue their fight for the right to settle in the UK.
The Home Office indicated the policy would now be published by 24 April. It has already ruled excluding those who retired before 1997 is unlawful.
The court ruled in September that excluding soldiers who retired before 1997 is unlawful.
'Galvanised by death'
Mr Howe told the BBC that effectively enforcing a judgment against a Secretary of State would be a legal first.
He added that the veterans have shown integrity and patience and were further galvanised by the death on 15 March of a Gurkha refused entry to the UK.
A Home Office spokesman indicated the test cases would now be reviewed by 7 May and it would initially reconsider all the other outstanding cases by the middle of June.A Home Office spokesman indicated the test cases would now be reviewed by 7 May and it would initially reconsider all the other outstanding cases by the middle of June.
It had originally said it was to review all cases by the end of 2008 but asked for an extra three months to publish a new policy for more than 1,300 Gurkhas.It had originally said it was to review all cases by the end of 2008 but asked for an extra three months to publish a new policy for more than 1,300 Gurkhas.
The veterans were back at the High Court earlier this month to seek an injunction to force the government to take action. 'Galvanised by death'
The veterans went back to the High Court earlier this month to seek an injunction to force the government to take action.
It followed a ruling in September that excluding soldiers who retired before 1997 was unlawful.It followed a ruling in September that excluding soldiers who retired before 1997 was unlawful.
Solicitor Martin Howe, who also represents the former soldiers, said the veterans had shown integrity and patience and were further galvanised by the death on 15 March of a Gurkha refused entry to the UK.
There are thought to be more than 300 veterans in the UK waiting for their cases to be decided.There are thought to be more than 300 veterans in the UK waiting for their cases to be decided.
Prominent supporter actress Joanna Lumley - whose father served with the Gurkhas - said it was a "chance to right a great wrong".Prominent supporter actress Joanna Lumley - whose father served with the Gurkhas - said it was a "chance to right a great wrong".
She is expected to attend the latest court hearing on Thursday.
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.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.They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 fighting in the two world wars.