NEW DELHI, May 12 — The Tohra faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal today received a major set back as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidates were elected unopposed to the executive of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

Mr Avtar Singh Hit was elected president of the DSGMC unopposed after the nomination of Mr Bhajan Singh Walia, Tohra group candidate for the post, was rejected by retired judge of the Delhi High Court, Justice Jaspal Singh.

The election was held under the supervision of the high court after the two factions moved the court challenging the elections held last year.

Other elected office-bearers included Dalvinder Singh Ayur — senior vice-president; Mr Shamsher Singh Sandhu — junior vice-president; Mr Kulmohan Singh — general secretary and Mr Jasbir Singh Kaka-joint secretary.

Ten executive members were Mr S.S. Bajwa, Dr Jaspal Singh, Mr Hari Singh, Mr Tarjeet Singh Nagi, Mr Surjit Singh Chandni Chowk, Mr Harmanjit Singh, Mr Tanwant Singh, Mr Bakhshish Singh Rohini, Mr Bhag Singh, Mr Atma Singh Lubana.

Mr Avtar Singh Hit got the support of 32 of the 49 members of the gurdwara committee.

Soon after his election to the post Mr Avtar Singh Hit told The Tribune that he would form a committee to inquire into the “omissions and commissions” of the previous committee.

Announcing the formation of a three-member committee comprising Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar to uplift the educational system in schools run by the DSGMC, he said, “The standard of education has fallen considerably during the term of the Tohra faction.”

Earlier, the candidature of Mr Avtar Singh Hit for president’s post was announced at a meeting held this morning at the residence of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. The meeting was attended by 32 members of the DSGMC. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also attended the meeting.

The outgoing DSGMC president, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, termed the election “illegal” as it had been conducted before the dissolution of the previous executive.

“As per tradition I should announce the dissolution of the executive before polling. Since the elections were being held under the supervision of a high court judge, he should have announced its dissolution. Neither of these was done”, Mr Sarna said, adding “so I continue to be the president.”

Mr Bhajan Singh Walia, whose candidature was rejected, told The Tribune that “the judge reasoned that I had been the member of the executive for two years and rejected my nomination papers.”

“This clause cannot be applied as the term of the general house has expired”, he said, adding “I will move the court to challenge the rejection of my candidature.”

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal told The Tribune “the elections had been held in a free and fair manner. They have been held under the supervision of a retired high court judge and there is no question of the involvement of money or muscle power.”

However, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, former Lok Sabha MP and a close ally of Mr Tohra, alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister had used his influence, money and muscle power to win over some of the DSGMC members. The elections brought to fore the shifting of allegiance of eight committee members of the Tohra faction to the Badal faction.

They were Ms Daljit Kaur, Mr Mela Singh, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Gurbachan Singh, Mr Jaspal Singh, Mr Manjit Singh, Mr Dalvinder Singh Ayur and Mr Jitender Singh Sahni.

Mr Chandumajra alleged that the defection of certain persons to the other group and the confinement of committee members at Nangal indicated “how free and fair the whole process had been.”

However, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal contended that “all those who went to Nangal went on their own and were not taken there by our party.”

An eyewitness said the committee members, who had allegedly been confined at NFL Guest House in Nangal, arrived this morning at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib for the election and were accompanied by large number of police personnel in civilian dress.

Earlier, it had been reported that the state government had tucked away 15 DSGMC members at the NFL Guest House at Naya Nangal to thwart attempts by rival factions to woo them.