London: Former Gurkha soldiers, who have accused the British government of racial discrimination, have won the right to challenge in the High Court the decision to deny them permission to settle in the country.


The ruling by Justice Sullivan last evening affected over 2,000 persons who can now apply for a judicial review of a government order, which said Gurkhas who retired from the British Army before July 1, 1997, are not entitled to settle in Britain.


The Gurkhas' legal team said that foreign soldiers would normally be eligible to settle in the UK after completing four years' service anywhere in the world.


The judge said that "an authoritative decision of this court as to whether or not the policy is unlawful" would be made by the end of September, this year.


A hearing will be held for two days from September 16, with submissions on behalf of the Gurkhas and the Home Department.


Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging him to grant citizenship to the war veterans.


He wrote to Prime Minister Brown, "It is yet another gross insult to the Gurkhas despite their bravery, unstinting service and commitment to the United Kingdom."