The holding of a test identification process is as much in the interest of the investigation agency or the prosecution as it is in the interest of the suspect or the accused. For a while, it enables the investigating officer to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the claim made by those witnesses who assert that they have seen the perpetrator of the crime.

It also allows the officer to assess their capacity to identify the suspect, thereby filling gaps in the investigation regarding the identity of the culprit. Furthermore, it safeguards the suspect or the accused from the sudden risk of being identified in the dock by the same witnesses during the course of the trial.

Identification parades are not primarily meant for the court; they serve investigation purposes. These parades belong to the investigation stage and provide the investigating authority with materials to assure themselves that the investigation is proceeding in the right direction. In other words, these identification parades help the investigating agency determine whether the individuals they suspect of committing the offense are indeed the real culprits.

There is no provision in the code that obliges the investigation agency to hold or confers a right upon the accused to claim a test identification parade. Additionally, these parades do not constitute substantive evidence and are essentially governed by section 162 of the code.