Validation plugin group problem

Validation plugin group problem

<div dir="ltr">Hello,
I am using JQuery - 1.2.3 along with jquery.validate.js - 1.4pre.
I am having a problem with group validation of fields. The error messages are being shown prematurely without giving the user an opportunity to submit the form. The page where I have this problem is : <a href="https://www.bankbazaar.com/personalloans/eligibility.html">https://www.bankbazaar.com/personalloans/eligibility.html</a>.
In over there, I am validating the field group with label "When did you move to this city". As I select the Year, the field is being validated which I believe is the normal behaviour. But under normal circumstances, the error would not be shown. In this case, it is being shown. I did some digging but couldnt arrive at the reason. Part of my configuration is as follows :
        groups : {
            validStartDate : "eFrm_form_startTimeInResidence_year eFrm_form_startTimeInResidence_month",
            validStartDate : "eFrm_form_startTimeInCity_year eFrm_form_startTimeInCity_month"
        },
.........
function validStartDate(value, input)
{
   
    var dtContainer = $(input).parent().find("select");
    var year = $(dtContainer[0]);
    var month = $(dtContainer[1]);
    var valid = true;
    valid = year.val().length > 0 && valid;
    valid = (year.find("option:last:selected").length == 1 || month.val().length > 0) && valid;
    if(valid)
    {
        cleanStartDate(input);
    }
    return valid;
}
......
the fields are as follows :
<div class="startDater">
<select class="requiredStartDate error" id="eFrm_form_startTimeInCity_year" name="form.startTimeInCity.year">
    <option class="gray_header" value="">YYYY</option>
    <option value="2008">2008</option>....    <option value="2003">Before 2004</option>
</select>
<select class="requiredStartDate" id="eFrm_form_startTimeInCity_month" name="form.startTimeInCity.month">
    <option class="gray_header" value="">MMM</option>
    <option value="1">Jan</option>...... <option value="12">Dec</option>
</select><br clear="all">
--
Thanks
Ram
</div>