Fix array deletion by ensuring strong references are created for JaxVariable during normal execution while handling NNX tracing contexts

Author: amitsrivastava78

keras/src/backend/jax/core.py

@@ -202,34 +202,24 @@ def _maybe_create_strong_reference(self, value):
                 # For sharded arrays, hold references to the shards' data.
                 shard_data = [shard.data for shard in value.addressable_shards]
                 if hasattr(self, "_trace_state"):
-                    # NNX variable - check for TraceContextError
+                    # NNX variable - be careful with mutations during tracing
                     try:
                         self._shard_references = [shard_data]
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        if config.is_nnx_enabled():
-                            from flax.errors import TraceContextError
-
-                            if not isinstance(e, TraceContextError):
-                                raise
-                        else:
-                            raise
+                    except Exception:
+                        # During tracing, mutations might not be allowed
+                        pass
                 else:
                     # Regular JaxVariable - always create reference
                     self._shard_references = [shard_data]
             else:
                 # For non-sharded arrays, hold a ref to the array itself.
                 if hasattr(self, "_trace_state"):
-                    # NNX variable - check for TraceContextError
+                    # NNX variable - be careful with mutations during tracing
                     try:
                         self._strong_reference = value
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        if config.is_nnx_enabled():
-                            from flax.errors import TraceContextError
-
-                            if not isinstance(e, TraceContextError):
-                                raise
-                        else:
-                            raise
+                    except Exception:
+                        # During tracing, mutations might not be allowed
+                        pass
                 else:
                     # Regular JaxVariable - always create reference
                     self._strong_reference = value