diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/portconfig.py b/src/sonic-config-engine/portconfig.py
index 51a4c438fa..0c056d1cda 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/portconfig.py
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/portconfig.py
@@ -45,16 +45,25 @@ BRKOUT_PATTERN_GROUPS = 6
 #
 # Helper Functions
 #
+
+# For python2 compatibility
+def py2JsonStrHook(j):
+    if isinstance(j, unicode):
+        return j.encode('utf-8', 'backslashreplace')
+    if isinstance(j, list):
+        return [py2JsonStrHook(item) for item in j]
+    if isinstance(j, dict):
+        return {py2JsonStrHook(key): py2JsonStrHook(value)
+            for key, value in j.iteritems()}
+    return j
+
 def readJson(filename):
     # Read 'platform.json' or 'hwsku.json' file
     try:
         with open(filename) as fp:
-            try:
-                data = json.load(fp)
-            except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                print("Json file does not exist")
-        data_dict = ast.literal_eval(json.dumps(data))
-        return data_dict
+            if sys.version_info.major == 2:
+                return json.load(fp, object_hook=py2JsonStrHook)
+            return json.load(fp)
     except Exception as e:
         print("error occurred while parsing json: {}".format(sys.exc_info()[1]))
         return None
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_platform.json b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_platform.json
index 4a8804a552..fbb281e073 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_platform.json
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_platform.json
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 {
+    "chassis": {
+        "psus": [
+            {
+                "name": "PSU 1",
+                "temperature": false
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "PSU 2",
+                "temperature": false
+            }
+        ]
+    },
     "interfaces": {
         "Ethernet0": {
             "index": "1,1,1,1",