The correct answer is: B. negligence.
Negligence is the failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. It is a tort (a civil wrong) that can be the basis for a lawsuit.
In the context of the question, the senior officials of the Ministry charged the secretary with gross negligence of duty. This means that they believe that the secretary failed to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances, and that this failure caused harm to the Ministry.
The other options are not as accurate descriptions of the secretary’s actions. Disregard means to ignore or pay no attention to something. Laxity means a lack of strictness or severity. Dishonesty means not being honest or truthful.
In conclusion, the correct answer is: B. negligence.