Nath has written more than 60 books and authored 300 research papers on Mughal period history and architecture. He was the first person who back in 1968 expressed the fear of Taj Mahal sinking and tilting, in an article published in the Sunday Standard.

Nath said the Supreme Court should have been told about the 1942 report by an experts committee which also submitted 45 drawings and set up 104 benchmarks for annual review and study by the ASI. "This is a document of singular importance. Unfortunately it has not been published and the 45 drawings submitted are also not traceable," Nath said.

"The benchmarks were engraved at vital points as was shown in drawing CE 8445 appended with the report and it was recommended that: "The positions to which the levels in the drawing refer have been cut in the floor of the building to serve as permanent benchmarks and it is recommended that the levels should be checked by the Survey of India every year in the future," he told Agratoday.in.

The ASI has been refusing to provide copies of the drawings saying it involved copyright issues, though these were handed over to the ASI by the British crown. "People have a right to know and see the drawings appended by the experts in 1942. A comparison with this report could provide us concrete evidence of any damage to the structure."

"In all my reports, articles, and interviews I have been highlighting the role of the Yamuna river to provide a counter thrust and buttress the enormous weight of the monument built on the edge of the river with some definite design and planning. The dome of the Taj alone weighs 12, 000 tons," Nath said.

By killing the river we have destroyed one basic condition for the safety of the Taj Mahal. "When it was built, Yamuna was full of water, pure, clean, crystal clear glacier water and maritime traffic plied constantly between Delhi and Allahabad and it flowed by the side of the building just touching it. Water provided a natural buttress to the massive structure on the opener side which was a basic condition of its original design. The change of this basic requirement was never anticipated by the builders. A vacuum has now been created," Prof R Nath explained.

He said any structure built on the sloping side of the river bank has a natural tendency of thrust on the opener side. "This had been originally counterbalanced by such a dynamic phenomenon as flowing water. To prevent the sinking of the monument as a whole, we will have to restore the basic condition of its original design and ensure by any means, continuous flow of the river by its northern wall, just touching it with 30 feet deep water all the 365 days of the year, buttressing it in the same way as it did in the 17th century."

Nath said he was prepared to present his arguments in the Supreme Court, if necessary to put the record straight and lift the veil of mystery and suspense that had affected logical and rational thinking on the issue of Taj conservation.