Union Minister Chirag Paswan announced that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) would file an appeal against the Supreme Court's decision permitting sub-classification within the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This comes at the back of the party's social media posts the day before expressing disapproval of the ruling.

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) argued that the primary justification for the Scheduled Caste categorisation- untouchability was not mentioned anywhere in the Supreme Court order. He also declared that his party would request a review.

In response to a query regarding the caste census—a demand that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has made repeatedly—the important BJP ally stated that while he supports the enumeration, he does not want the results to be made public.

"We have an objection to the sub-classification ruling made by the Supreme Court, but I don't want to say anything that would be construed as contempt of court." The Supreme Court will receive a review petition from the Lokshakti Party (Ramvilas). To be clear, the castes were added to the scheduled category based on untouchability when it came to SCs. There was never a financial or educational foundation. In one way or another, all of these castes experienced untouchability," Mr. Paswan remarked in Hindi.

Because scheduled castes are based on untouchability, the idea of reservation inside reservation—or the creamy layer—can never apply to them. However, there is no mention of untouchability in the Supreme Court's viewpoints. We witness Dalit grooms being prevented from mounting a horse even in the present day. He contended that even well-educated Scheduled Caste members from wealthy households are subject to untouchability.

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) handle on X on Friday referred to the legacy of Mr. Paswan's father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a well-known Dalit leader, and asked the Supreme Court to reevaluate its ruling.

Ram Vilas, the Lok Janshakti Party, disagrees with the Supreme Court's ruling about SC/ST subcategory reservation. The party stated in Hindi that Padma Bhushan Ram Vilas Paswan ji, the party's founder, has also been demanding that there not be any provisions for reservation in subcategories and a creamy layer for SC-ST categories as long as there is a practice of untouchability against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in society.

"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 stated.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud led a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court that delivered its majority decision on Thursday, ruling that sub-classification is allowed.

"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.

Additionally, the Centre informed the court that it supported the subclassification of SCs and STs because staying in the reserved categories would result in inequality.

Image source: ANI