The education ministry termed Thursday's recruitments illegal.
According to records, 52 teachers and 191 other employees were recruited in the four-year tenure of Prof Sobhan.
Several senior teachers of the university said the situation was created due to gross violation of the Rajshahi University Act 1973, which makes it mandatory to appoint the VC from a panel of three individuals nominated by the Senate.
"Instead of following the rules, VCs are being appointed through executive orders," Prof Abu Naser Md Wahid told The Daily Star.
"Such orders are the result of serious lobbies by individuals affiliated to political leaders. Once appointed, the VCs remain loyal to the leaders who lobbied for them. This is how the corruption starts," Prof Wahid said.