package passwd 1:4.2-3.1ubuntu5.3 failed to install/upgrade: package passwd is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')

[Cibi Chakravarthy]

This error occurs while upgrading

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: passwd 1:4.2-3.1ubuntu5.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-36.36~16.04.1-generic 4.8.11
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Aug 26 06:10:53 2017
DpkgTerminalLog:
 dpkg: error processing package passwd (--configure):
  package passwd is not ready for configuration
  cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')
ErrorMessage: package passwd is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-08-02 (23 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: shadow
Title: package passwd 1:4.2-3.1ubuntu5.3 failed to install/upgrade: package passwd is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status 'half-installed')
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.