Another neat CW from Sankalak, how easy he makes the CW appear. If NJ were to make the clues for these words we would have been running around in circles (which we will be doing next thursday onwards). I wish The HINDU runs a competition where the same set of answers is given to all the setters for preparing the clues and then we would know who is the best amongst our setters.
ACROSS
ACROSS
1 - Lab equipment used in Pusa, a part needing repair (9) - APPARATUS*
5 - Dentist's admonition to uncooperative patient! (5) - WIDER [CD]
8 - Growing weak, applying drugs around half of Rome (8) - DROOPING {D{ROme}OPING}
9 - Making a request to a singular ruler (6) - ASKING {A}{S}{KING}
11 - Material from Mediterranean island quietly substituted for leader in textiles (5) - CREPE CRE(-t+p)PE
12 - Having a flaming top, he dreaded change (9) - REDHEADED*
13 - It is operating in a computer (6) - SYSTEM [CD]
14 - One willing to use any opportunity for profit, unknown in record office (8) - CHANCERY {CHANCER}{Y}
16 - Putting two and two together (8) - ADDITION [E]
18 - Property — plantations, for example (6) - ESTATE [E]
22 - Filled with wonder, ‘e was running, chased by lorry (9) - AWESTRUCK {AWES*}{TRUCK}
23 - Weapon very common around capital of Liberia (5) - RIFLE {RIF{L}E}
24 - Bad luck for small-time criminal with spectacles (6) - HOODOO {HOOD}{OO}
25 - Using indecent language in making a promise (8) - SWEARING [DD]
26 - Shows excessive liking for spots around the east (5) - DOTES {DOT{E}S}
27 - Possible consequence of alcohol abuse (9) - CIRRHOSIS [E] Though of addiction first
1 - Slaves of habit ditch the salad, ignore health and suffer (7) - ADDICTS (DITCh the SalAD)*
2 - Series of operations gets officer covered by media (7) - PROCESS {PR{OC}ESS}
3 - Statements of demands relating to award ceremonies (15) - REPRESENTATIONS {RE}{PRESENTATIONS}
4 - Holding a job for a time, I leave retinue confused (6) - TENURE RETiNUE*
5 - Squander lung power and give advice that is not heeded (5,4,6) - WASTE ONE'S BREATH [DD]
6 - Led astray about blow, slack off (7) - DWINDLE {D{WIND}LE*}
7 - Fit out without any specific purpose but in an unbending manner (7) - RIGIDLY {RIG}{IDLY}
10 - State of America as reflected in an Aloha ditty (5) - IDAHO [T<-]
15 - A meeting to discuss and get university in shape (5) - FORUM {FOR{U}M}
16 - Embarrassed by deposit in a part of the garden (7) - ABASHED {A}{B{ASH}ED}
17 - One ousted, disgraced, ceases to be (4,3) - DIESOUT D(I)ESOUT*
19 - “There is a tide in the __ of men, which, taken at the flood …” ( Julius Caesar ) (7) - AFFAIRS
20 - Schemer, gesturing, comes out here (7) - EMERGES [T]
21 - It holds meat being roasted, with offensive smells rising all around (6) - SKEWER {SKE{W}ER<-}
