Community centres across Panchkula , conceived as shared neighbourhood spaces for weddings, social gatherings, and community events, are increasingly being diverted for official use, left neglected or rendered partially functional, raising questions over accountability, transparency and residents’ access to civic infrastructure. A ground investigation, backed by resident testimonies, activist claims and official inputs, points to a consistent pattern: facilities built for public use are either lying defunct, functioning only in part, or operating as government offices. Municipal-level data for 2024 shows Panchkula has 21 community centres spread across 28 sectors. Of these, at least 10 are currently occupied by government departments, effectively placing nearly half of the city’s community infrastructure beyond regular public use. A substantial number of these buildings are used by the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula, which continues to function without a dedicated headquarters.…