sub validate_date {

        my $start_date = $_[0];
        my $end_date = $_[1];
        my $today_date = $_[2];
        my @start_date_array = split(/\//, $start_date);
        my @end_date_array = split(/\//, $end_date);
        my @today_date_array = split(/\//, $today_date);
        my $error_msg = "";
        if (!$start_date || !$end_date){
        $error_msg = "Blank Field in Date field. Please Use Browser Back button and Enter Date Field"};
#       if ( (@start_date_array[0] > @today_date_array[0]) && (@start_date_array[1] > @today_date_array[1]) && (@start_date_array[2] > @today_date_array[2])) {
        if  (@start_date_array[0] > @today_date_array[0]) {
        $error_msg = "Start Date can not be a Future Date. Please Use Browser Back button and Enter Start Date"};
        if ( (@end_date_array[0] > @today_date_array[0]) && (@end_date_array[1] > @today_date_array[1]) && (@end_date_array[2] > @today_date_array[2])) {
        $error_msg = "End Date can not be a Future Date. Please Use Browser Back button and Enter End Date"};
        return $error_msg;

}