A day after the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) criticized the Supreme Court's verdict allowing sub-classification within the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on social media, Union Minister Chirag Paswan announced that the party plans to appeal the decision.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Paswan argued that the primary basis for the classification of Scheduled Castes—untouchability—was not addressed in the Supreme Court's ruling, and stated that his party would seek a review of the order.

When asked about the caste census, a topic frequently raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the prominent BJP ally expressed support for the enumeration but opposed making the results public.

"The Supreme Court has given a judgment on sub-classification and I don't want to say anything that can be seen as contempt of court, but we certainly have an objection. The Lokshakti Party (Ramvilas) will file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Let me make it clear that when it comes to SCs, the castes were added to the scheduled category with untouchability as the basis. The basis was never financial or educational. All of these castes endured untouchability in some shape or form," Mr Paswan said in Hindi.

"So the concept of reservation within reservation cannot apply to scheduled castes... creamy layer can never apply to scheduled castes because the basis is untouchability. But untouchability is not even mentioned in the Supreme Court observations. Even today, we get to see Dalit grooms being stopped from getting on a horse. Even educated Scheduled Caste people coming from well-to-do families face untouchability," he argued.

In a post on X on Friday, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) highlighted the legacy of Mr. Paswan's father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent Dalit leader, and urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

"Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is not in favour of the Supreme Court's decision on reservation in sub-categories for SC-ST categories. The party's founder Padma Bhushan Ram Vilas Paswan ji has also been demanding that as long as there is a practice of untouchability against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the society, there should not be any provision for reservation in sub-categories and creamy layer for SC-ST categories," the party wrote in Hindi.

"Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) urges the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision so that discrimination does not arise in the SC-ST society and society cannot be weakened," it added.

On Thursday, a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, delivered a majority judgment affirming that sub-classification within the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is permitted.

"The members of SC/ST categories are often unable to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination they face. Article 14 permits sub-classification of caste... Historical and empirical evidence demonstrates that the Scheduled Castes are a socially heterogeneous class," Chief Justice Chandrachud had said. 

The Centre had also told the court that it was in favour of sub-classification of SCs and STs as not doing so perpetuates inequality within the reserved categories.