package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')

[Ashwath Narayana]

i cannot update or install any package it displays the same error always

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: libpython2.7-dev:amd64 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-42.46~16.04.1-generic 4.10.17
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-42-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Dec 27 14:06:53 2017
DuplicateSignature:
 package:libpython2.7-dev:amd64:2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.2
 Processing triggers for mime-support (3.59ubuntu1) ...
 dpkg: error processing package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 (--configure):
  package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 is not ready for configuration
ErrorMessage: package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-07-29 (151 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.3
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: python2.7
Title: package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: package libpython2.7-dev:amd64 is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)