Former Gurkhas have lost their appeal for equal pension rights at the European Court of Human Rights.

The British Gurkha Welfare Society (BGWS) had filed two separate cases against the British government at the court, arguing that all the former Gurkhas should be entitled to pension rights equal to any former servicemen and women from the British Army.

The court based in Strasbourg, France, upheld the earlier decision made by the British government,

saying that the government had acted lawfully and there was no breach in Gurkhas’ human rights.

The Grand Chamber that began the hearing on Tuesday concluded it on Thursday.

The BGWS was fighting a legal battle seeking equal pensions for former Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997. According to the current rule of the British government, only Gurkhas who served after July 1, 1997 are eligible for equal pension.

The decision is likely to affect hundreds of Gurkha families living in Kent, Hampshire and Berkshire.

They have been fighting

for greater pension right of the former Gurkhas after

the British government agreed to allow those who

had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 to settle in Britain.

The battle for the equal

right of UK residence was championed by actress Joanna Lumley.