Gurkhas' equal-pay challenge is too late

Last updated at 19:05 25 May 2007


Four Gurkhas who served with the British Army have lost their fight for equal pay with other soldiers.



The men, all in their forties, wanted to bring a race discrimination claim against the Ministry of Defence at an employment tribunal.

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If the case had been successful it would have challenged the validity of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Nepal over Gurkhas' service.

However, the MoD was let off the hook simply because the tribunal ruled that their claims were submitted too late to be considered.

They should have been made within six months of the four being discharged.

The four - Kishor Gurung, Netrabahadur Pun, Libahadur Pun, Udayakumar Gurung - served between 15 and 18 years before retiring.

They intended to argue that they had received less pay and lower pensions than normal British soldiers, as well as receiving lower re-settlement grants and no terminal leave grant - a lump sum paid to UK troops.

In addition, they claimed the Army did not make the same National Insurance contributions for them, while they were given only a limited amount of time with their families while serving.

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