Dear Kalpana,
It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that employees are well accoutred. For the execution of the duties, if certain assets or tools are required then it is the management's responsibility to provide that. Failure to do so is not a fault of the employee.
Why this incident is linked to the disbursement of the salary is not understood. Imagine a situation wherein the employee had reported for the duty but company could not provide the laptop because her laptop is unserviceable and there is no standby laptop. For the idle hours that she passes while on duty, should her salary be deducted? Certainly not.
In the factories, the workers remain idle because of the breakdown of the machines or non-availability fo the raw material. Should the workers' salary be forfeited since they did not give any output? Certainly not!
It would be improper to make someone scapegoat for one's mistakes. Nevertheless, you may take disciplinary action against the team lead for his failure to arrange the laptop. But even while taking disciplinary action also, be cautious. First, check whether he was empowered to allot the laptop to her not or how much time it would have taken to get the approval from the approving authority to issue the laptop. If the culpability of the team leader is clearly established then only initiate the disciplinary action. Again don't ever think of recovering lost salary of the woman employee from the Team Leader.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar