Bug#162120: debian-policy: Deletion of configuration files--should it be preserved?

[Thomas Bushnell BSG <tb@becket.net>]

Package: debian-policy
Version: 3.5.6.1
Severity: important

Section 11.7.3 says that changes to configuration files are supposed to be
preserved on upgrade.  This is not commonly done, however, if the change
consists in deleting the file entirely.  Existing practice is probably fine,
but the policy sentence is misleading.  I suggest adding something like:

"(though packages are permitted to reinstall configuration files that have been
completely deleted)"

-- System Information
Debian Release: 3.0
Kernel Version: Linux becket.becket.net 2.2.19 #1 Fri Jun 29 15:36:16 PDT 2001 i686 unknown

Versions of the packages debian-policy depends on:
ii  fileutils      4.1-10         GNU file management utilities