Codanda Sommaiah

Born on March 11, 1931, Codanda Somaiah boasted an impeccable career record marked by modesty and unwavering integrity. As a distinguished IAS officer and the renowned Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Somaiah left an indelible mark. He held the distinction of being the first Kodava from India elected to the United Nations Board of Audit by the UN General Assembly in 1993. His lengthy tenure as an IAS officer showcased his dedication to public service, while his role on the international stage underscored his global recognition. Somaiah’s legacy is one of competence, ethical leadership, and groundbreaking achievements.

Family

Father

• Codanda Ganapathy

Mother

• Codanda polly ( Kelapanda )

Wife

• Codanda Indira ( Konganda )

Children

Son

• Codanda Anand

Daughter

• Pria Alva 

Family Tree

www.kodavaclan.com

Education

Codanda G Sommaiah a graduate from Loyola College, Madras University. He served as a faculty member in the same college. He cleared the Indian Administrative service examination and joined service in 1953. He did his sabbatical at the Oxford University in 1974–1975.

Achievements

• He was the first person from India to be elected as the member of the United Nations Board of Audit by the UN General Assembly In 1993.
• Somiah was deputed to the Central Government in New Delhi where he had an uninterrupted 15-year stint in various Bhavans on Raisina Hill until 1996. He worked in association with luminaries such as Nani Palkivala and Ashoke Kumar Sen.
• He was the financial controller of the Asian Games Organizing committee in the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi.
•  In 1983 he was appointed Secretary Department of Company Affairs and Chairman of the Company Law Board.
• He was the first person to be posted as Assistant Commissioner of Orissa.
• He was the Home Secretary, Secretary of the Planning Commission. As Home Secretary, he led a delegation to Pakistan in 1987 to discuss counter-terrorism and the control of narcotics.
• He was also involved in Operation Black Thunder, in fighting terrorism in Punjab and in flushing out terrorists from the Golden Temple.
• He was the member of Secretary Department of the company affairs and Chairman of the company law board.
• In October 1988, he was made the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
• He served as the CAG(Comptroller and Auditor General) between 27 March 1990 and 11 March 1996. The CAG is ranked 9th in India according to the Indian order of precedence and has the same status as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. As CAG he headed the financial audits of the Central Government, the 26 States and 5 Union Territories of India.
• He was the Chairman of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institution between 1993 and 1996.
• He was the first Indian to become the Chairman of the UN Board of Auditors or the UN Audit Committee in 1995.
• He was part of the home ministry and rejected the suggestion to ban the religious right of the Kodavas and the people of  Kodagu to possess guns.
• He wrote an autobiography called “The Honest always Stand alone”, which became the top in the best sellers list.
• He won the South India Junior Tennis Championship and the All Orissa Badminton Championship in 1995.

Awards

• Somiah was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Fellowship.
• He was honoured with the Rajyotsava award by Karnataka state in November 2000.

He retired in 1996 and settled down in Bangalore. After retirement, he became an avid golfer. He died at the age of 79 on 13 September 2010.