package python-django 1.6.11-0ubuntu1.2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Dhirendra]

The installation or removal of a software package failed.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: python-django 1.6.11-0ubuntu1.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-142.168~14.04.1-generic 4.4.167
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-142-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue May 21 17:26:39 2019
DuplicateSignature: package:python-django:1.6.11-0ubuntu1.2:subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-08-11 (1012 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20160217.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.17.5ubuntu5.8
 apt 1.0.1ubuntu2.19
SourcePackage: python-django
Title: package python-django 1.6.11-0ubuntu1.2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

Thanks for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but this appears to be a "regular" (non-security) bug. I have unmarked it as a security issue since this bug does not show evidence of allowing attackers to cross privilege boundaries nor directly cause loss of data/privacy. Please feel free to report any other bugs you may find.

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

The error message from the terminal log:

(Reading database ... 1522438 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../python-django_1.6.11-0ubuntu1.3_all.deb ...
  File "/usr/bin/pyclean", line 63
    except (IOError, OSError), e:
                             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
  File "/usr/bin/pyclean", line 63
    except (IOError, OSError), e:
                             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/python-django_1.6.11-0ubuntu1.3_all.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

what are the targets of /usr/bin/python and /usr/bin/python2 on your system?

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

Hello, can you please provide the output of:

head -1 /usr/bin/pyclean
ls -l /usr/bin/python

Thanks