minDate Not Working in IE(8)

minDate Not Working in IE(8)

Hello,
I am using the following code for a booking calendar.

[code]
<?
$dte=$_GET['dte'];
?>
<?
$date=date('Y-m-d');
$mqry=mysql_query("select distinct date from calendar where date > '$date' and  ctr='1'");
?> 
<script type="text/javascript">

var dateList = new Array();
<?
while($marr=mysql_fetch_array($mqry))
{
?>
dateList.push("<? echo $marr['date']; ?>");
<?
}
?>

</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
StartDate = new Date('<?= $dte ?>');
$("#date").datepicker({ minDate: StartDate, dateFormat: 'yy-mm-dd', beforeShowDay: function(dateToShow){
    return [($.inArray($.datepicker.formatDate('yy-mm-dd', dateToShow),dateList) < 0),""]; 
  }

});


</script>
[/code]

It is working fine in every other browser (Firefox, Chrome, Opera) but minDate is not working in Internet Explorer 8. Please Help.