Tehran, Dec 15, IRNA -- The Guardians Council said on Sunday that a letter signed last week by 154 members of parliament expressing concern about the Guardians Council's rejection of several bills is not legally valid.

The Public Relations Office of the Guardians Council said in a statement faxed to IRNA that that Council is carrying out its constitutional obligation in accordance with articles 72, 91, 93, 94 and 96 of the Constitution requiring the Council to determine whether or not the legislation passed by the parliament is in conformity with the Constitution and the Islamic Sharia law.

The statement challenged the letter as surprising and said, "When the Constitution has stipulated that the matters of dispute between the parliament and the Guardians Council should be taken to the Expediency Council, why have the MPs raised such a question?"

The MPs had protested what they said the methodology of the Guardians Council in examination of the legislation passed by the parliament which in fact has led the process of legislation to a standstill.

The Guardians Council maintained in the statement that all those rejected by the Council had something which did not comply with the Constitution.

The Guardians Council has rejected about 50 bills passed by the parliament this year triggering the protest of the MPs who believe the legislation are compatible with the Constitution.